US lifts sanctions on Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodríguez
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The United States has lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, in the latest step toward restoring relations between the two countries after President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken into US custody in January.
The US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday that Rodríguez had been removed from its sanctions list, allowing her to work more freely with American companies and investors.
Rodríguez welcomed the decision in a message on Telegram, calling it a step toward improving ties between Washington and Caracas.
“We value President Donald Trump’s decision as a step toward normalising and strengthening relations between our countries,” she said. Rodríguez added that she hoped the move would lead to broader relief from sanctions on Venezuela.
Rodríguez and her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, were sanctioned by the United States in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term. The sanctions were imposed over allegations that they had helped Maduro maintain power after his disputed re-election.
The Trump administration has since worked with Rodríguez following Maduro’s removal. Last month, Washington recognised her as Venezuela’s sole head of state in a US federal court case. The US has also eased restrictions on Venezuela’s oil sector, allowing state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela SA, or PDVSA, to resume direct oil sales to US firms and global markets.
Rodríguez took office after Venezuela’s high court declared Maduro’s absence temporary and authorised her to serve for 90 days, with the possibility of an extension approved by the National Assembly. Her current term is due to end on Friday.
