1 hour ago
Last Updated:January 22, 2026, 22:32 IST
Laura F. Dogu is the new US charge d'affaires to Venezuela after Nicolas Maduro's arrest and a deadly raid involving a secret US sonic weapon, confirmed by Trump.
The US embassy page listed Laura F. Dogu as the new charge d'affaires to Venezuela. (X)
The US has appointed a new head for its embassy in Venezuela, three weeks after Washington arrested its leader Nicolas Maduro.
AFP quoted a US diplomatic source saying that the embassy page listed Laura F. Dogu – a former ambassador to Nicaragua and Honduras – as the new charge d’affaires to Venezuela.
John McNamara served as US charge d’affaires for Venezuela – based in neighboring Colombia – since last year.
Maduro was captured on January 3 after US authorities accused him of trafficking drugs into the United States, allegations Caracas has repeatedly denied. Venezuela’s Interior Minister said the raid on Maduro’s compound resulted in at least 100 deaths, according to official statements, though it remains unclear whether any of the casualties were linked to the sonic weapon.
Recently, Trump confirmed that the US military used what he described as a “secret sonic" weapon during the operation.
He acknowledged the weapon’s use during an interview on the NewsNation programme Katie Pavlich Tonight, boasting about the strength of the US military and suggesting that no other country possesses similar technology.
Speculation about the use of a sonic weapon had circulated for weeks after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said a device deployed during the raid left Venezuelan soldiers bleeding from the nose and vomiting blood.
Sonic weapons use intense sound waves to disorient or disable targets and can cause headaches, balance problems, confusion and, in some cases, permanent hearing damage. While such weapons are not banned under international law, their use has drawn scrutiny because of potential long-term health effects.
Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
January 22, 2026, 22:32 IST
News world Three Weeks After Maduro's Capture, US Names New Envoy To Venezuela
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