US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting President

The United States has officially removed sanctions targeting Delcy Rodriguez, the interim leader of Venezuela, marking a shift in diplomatic relations following the removal of former President Nicolas Maduro. This action follows the US’s ongoing effort to reduce sanctions on Venezuela, which began after Maduro’s ouster in early 2019.

A notice from the Treasury Department’s website announced the removal of Rodriguez from the “Specially Designated Nationals List” on Wednesday. The decision allows her to engage more freely with American businesses and investors. Rodriguez, who assumed the role following the January 3 US-led operation that captured Maduro in Caracas, expressed optimism about the move in a statement shared on X.

“We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of the sanctions currently in place on our country, enabling the building and guaranteeing of an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our peoples,” she said.

Rodriguez was previously sanctioned in 2018 under Donald Trump’s administration as part of a broader crackdown on Maduro’s inner circle. Her current position sees her navigating tensions between Washington’s demands and her own supporters. Since March, she has been adhering to Trump’s requests for Venezuela to open its energy sector to US firms.

In a significant development, the US State Department announced the reopening of its embassy in Caracas on Monday, ending a seven-year closure. This move coincides with the Treasury Department’s March authorization, which permitted PDVSA to sell Venezuelan oil directly to American companies and international markets.

The easing of sanctions signals a thaw in relations between Washington and Caracas, though challenges remain. Rodriguez’s removal from the sanctions list is part of a broader strategy to normalize ties and foster economic collaboration.