By Blessing Nweke
The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, in a move signaling deepening diplomatic recognition and a shift in relations between the two countries.
The decision, опубликed through the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, removes Rodríguez from a sanctions list that had restricted her access to financial systems and international dealings. The step underscores Washington’s position that it recognizes her as Venezuela’s legitimate authority following months of political upheaval.
The policy change comes after U.S. forces captured former president Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a January operation in Caracas. Both were transported to New York, where they face drug trafficking charges and have pleaded not guilty.
Since then, the administration of Donald Trump has engaged with Venezuela’s interim government, opening channels for diplomatic and economic cooperation. Analysts say lifting sanctions could allow U.S. businesses to interact with Caracas more freely and may pave the way for broader economic agreements, particularly in the energy sector.
Despite the shift, Maduro technically remains Venezuela’s president under a ruling by the country’s high court, which declared his absence “temporary.” The court authorized Rodríguez to serve for an initial 90-day period, with the possibility of extension if approved by the National Assembly.
That initial term is set to expire Friday, adding urgency to ongoing political negotiations.
Venezuela’s government has not immediately commented on the sanctions relief. However, the move is widely seen as a significant step toward normalizing relations after years of tension and isolation between Washington and Caracas.
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