U.S. Suspends Operations at Kuwait Embassy; Announces Plans to Reopen Embassy in Venezuela

March 7, 2026

On Friday, the U.S. State Department announced a pair of decisions affecting the operation of embassies in Kuwait and Venezuela.  The Kuwait City embassy is suspending operations due to regional unrest; the embassy in Venezuela will be reopened.  The full text of both announcements appears below:

Regarding Kuwait:

Today, the Department of State announced the suspension of operations at U.S. Embassy Kuwait City.

While there have been no reported injuries to U.S. personnel, the safety of Americans abroad remains the highest priority of the U.S. Department of State.

The Travel Advisory for Kuwait remains at a Level 3: Reconsider Travel. U.S. citizens should consult the most current Travel Advisory and country information at travel.state.gov.

U.S. citizens in Kuwait should depart the country, if they can do so safely, using commercial or other available transportation options. U.S. citizens unable to depart should shelter in place.

U.S. citizens requiring emergency assistance, including consular services and information on available departure options, may contact the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the United States and Canada).

Regarding Venezuela:

The United States and Venezuela’s interim authorities have agreed to re-establish diplomatic and consular relations. This step will facilitate our joint efforts to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela.

Our engagement is focused on helping the Venezuelan people move forward through a phased process that creates the conditions for a peaceful transition to a democratically elected government.

The United States remains committed to supporting the Venezuelan people and working with partners across the region to advance stability and prosperity.