U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela’s Acting President

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Wednesday that it has lifted sanctions against Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president of Venezuela.

Rodríguez is known for her strong socialist beliefs and has been implicated in numerous human rights violations along with many members of Venezuela’s regime, which has faced U.S. sanctions over the past decade for its oppressive actions during Nicolás Maduro’s rule.

Originally sanctioned in September 2018 during Donald Trump’s presidency, Rodríguez is currently in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center alongside her brother and several other high-ranking officials, including Maduro’s wife, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York.

Rodríguez expressed her support for the sanction lift through her social media platforms. She described the decision as a significant move toward normalizing and improving relations between the U.S. and Venezuela. “I believe this progress will eventually lead to the removal of more sanctions against our country,” she stated.

In her remarks, she emphasized the potential for economic development, increased investment, and effective cooperation between nations, highlighting a shared goal of achieving prosperity for the Venezuelan people.

After an operation was authorized by Trump for the arrest of Maduro and his wife in early January, Rodríguez took on the role of “acting president.” Having served in several high-level positions, including vice president and oil minister, she was central in the government for the past decade.

Following Maduro’s arrest, Rodríguez was active in engaging with the Trump administration, seeking support for Venezuela’s struggling oil and energy sectors, which are in desperate need of assistance.

During her efforts, she met with U.S. officials like Secretary of Energy Crist Wright and Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan. Rodríguez described Trump as a “friend” and “partner” in their communications over the past few months.

The U.S. decision to lift sanctions comes nearly a month after both countries restored diplomatic ties, which had been strained since Maduro severed relations with the United States in 2019.

The U.S. Embassy in Caracas, closed since March 2019, officially reopened this week under Ambassador Laura Dogg, marking a key step in Trump’s strategy for restoring democracy in Venezuela after Maduro’s ousting.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the progress made in stabilizing the situation in Venezuela, emphasizing that the initial goal was to avoid chaos and civil war, which has largely been achieved.

White House press secretary Anna Kelly noted that the lifting of sanctions is indicative of progress in U.S.-Venezuela relations. She stated that Rodríguez is collaborating effectively with the U.S. to foster stability and promote economic recovery.

Rubio acknowledged the remarkable progress Venezuela has made in the last three months but also reminded that a transition phase toward free elections is necessary in the future. He urged patience but warned against complacency regarding further developments.