Félix Plasencia has been appointed as Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, according to an announcement by acting president Delcy Rodríguez.
Delcy Rodríguez Restructures Diplomacy and Trade
As part of this restructuring, Félix Plasencia takes over the expanded role of Foreign Minister. The previous foreign minister, Yván Gil, has been reassigned to lead the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Plasencia’s appointment follows a period of intense diplomatic movement. He previously served as Venezuela’s chargé d’affaires in the United States, a role he assumed in February. According to CNN, formal diplomatic relations between Washington and Caracas were restored in March after Plasencia spent several days in the U.S. capital during the early weeks of the year to coordinate bilateral ties.
A Moderate Profile for Western Diplomacy
Unlike many high-ranking officials within the Chavismo movement, Plasencia is viewed as a professional diplomat rather than an ideological firebrand. Imdat Oner, a former Turkish diplomat stationed in Caracas, told CNN that Plasencia understands the mechanics of diplomacy, a trait Oner noted is often absent among other senior figures in the current administration.
Plasencia’s career spans several decades and key global hubs:
- United Kingdom: He served as the head of the Venezuelan Mission in the UK and studied there in the 1990s alongside Delcy Rodríguez.
- China: As former Ambassador to China, he managed the “brotherhood” between the two nations, centered largely on oil exports and shared opposition to U.S. sanctions.
- Colombia: Between 2022 and 2023, he served as Ambassador to Colombia, where he worked to reopen the embassy in Bogotá following the transition to President Gustavo Petro’s administration.
Strategic Alignment with the Trump Administration
The timing of Plasencia’s ascent coincides with a shift in how the Rodríguez-led government interacts with the U.S. executive branch. Plasencia arrived in Washington the same week Donald Trump and Delcy Rodríguez held a telephone call, and the same week Trump hosted opposition leader María Corina Machado at the White House.
Analysts cited by CNN suggest that placing Plasencia in a central role is a calculated move by Rodríguez to counter the influence of the Venezuelan opposition and establish a direct, professional line of communication with the Trump government. Because Plasencia is comfortable in Western diplomatic circles, he is seen as a figure who can generate trust with U.S. officials without abandoning his “Bolivarian” identity.
Diversifying Economic Ties Beyond Oil
Plasencia’s previous tenure as Minister of Tourism highlights a strategy to find non-petroleum revenue streams for the Venezuelan state. His experience in China and the UK has provided him with a network of international investors and economic forces necessary to navigate the “coercive unilateral measures” imposed by Washington.
In a 2024 conference marking the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, Plasencia described China as a “beacon of hope” for sovereign nations fighting for independence against U.S. sanctions. This balance—maintaining a strategic alliance with Beijing while seeking a pragmatic thaw with Washington—defines his current mandate.
Comparison of Diplomatic Approaches
| Feature | Traditional Chavismo Line | Félix Plasencia Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Ideological confrontation | Conciliatory and professional |
| Method | Public rhetoric/Anti-Western | Discrete diplomatic negotiation |
| Key Focus | Political loyalty | Institutional relations & investment |
With the Rodríguez siblings now holding the presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly, Plasencia is expected to remain the central figure in the effort to fully restore the diplomatic link broken in 2019. His ability to navigate both the halls of power in Beijing and the diplomatic circles of Washington will be critical to the administration’s survival and economic recovery.
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