Mike Hammer, the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Cuba, publicly praised his counterpart Laura Dogu this past Saturday. Dogu, who previously held the same position in Venezuela, was commended by Hammer following their meeting at the Southern Command's Chiefs of Mission Conference in Doral, Florida.
"It was wonderful to catch up with my dear friend Ambassador Laura Dogu at the Southern Command Chiefs of Mission Conference. She did an outstanding job in Venezuela!" Hammer expressed from the official U.S. Embassy in Cuba's social media account, accompanying his message with a photograph taken at the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) facilities.
The meeting took place during the 2026 Chiefs of Mission Conference, which ran from May 5 to 7 under the motto "Peace Through Strength." The conference included participation from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and General Francis L. Donovan, Commander of USSOUTHCOM.
Laura Dogu's Impactful Tenure in Venezuela
Laura Dogu was appointed by President Donald Trump as the interim Chargé d'Affaires in Venezuela on January 22, 2026, amid the re-establishment of diplomatic ties following Nicolás Maduro's fall. She arrived in Caracas on January 31 to reopen the U.S. diplomatic mission, which had been closed since 2019, and successfully formalized the embassy's reopening by March 30, 2026.
During her tenure, Dogu engaged with Delcy Rodríguez and Jorge Rodríguez at the Miraflores Palace to present Trump and Rubio's three-phase plan aimed at stabilizing, economically recovering, and transitioning Venezuela towards democracy.
Dogu announced the conclusion of her temporary assignment on April 15, returning to her role as the foreign policy advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces. She was succeeded by John Barrett, who arrived in Venezuela on April 23 to continue executing the three-phase plan and subsequently met with Delcy Rodríguez.
Strategic Discussions at the SOUTHCOM Conference
Hammer, who has led the mission in Cuba since October 2023, also met with Admiral Adam Chamie, Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard's Southeast District, during the conference. The SOUTHCOM conference focused primarily on advancing the U.S. National Security Strategy objectives in the Western Hemisphere, emphasizing efforts to combat narco-terrorism and prevent adversarial presence in the region, highlighting Cuba as a key topic.
The public commendation by Hammer towards Dogu, issued two days after the conference concluded, underscores the internal appreciation for a diplomatic mission that, in just two and a half months, reinstated Washington's official presence in Caracas after a seven-year hiatus.
Frequently Asked Questions About U.S. Diplomatic Efforts in Venezuela
What was Laura Dogu's role in Venezuela?
Laura Dogu served as the interim Chargé d'Affaires for the U.S. in Venezuela, where she successfully reopened the U.S. embassy and engaged in diplomatic efforts to stabilize and transition the country.
What was the purpose of the SOUTHCOM conference?
The SOUTHCOM conference aimed to advance U.S. National Security Strategy goals in the Western Hemisphere, focusing on countering narcoterrorism and preventing adversarial influence, with a significant emphasis on Cuba.