The United States has lifted sanctions on Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodríguez. The move comes less than three months after US forces seized the country's previous leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife in a military raid in Caracas and took them to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Rodríguez, a close ally of Maduro who served as his vice-president, had been placed on the sanctions list in 2018, with the US accusing her of undermining democracy. She was sworn in as interim president by Venezuela's National Assembly, which is dominated by Maduro loyalists, days after the US raid and has been described by US President Donald Trump as a terrific person. Rodríguez welcomed her removal from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, as those named on the list have their assets in the US blocked and US nationals are barred from doing business with them. In a post on X, she called it a significant step in the right direction to normalize and strengthen relations between our countries. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that the initiative shows the progress made to promote stability, support economic recovery, and advance political reconciliation in Venezuela. However, opposition activists in Venezuela criticized the decision, arguing that the US should press Rodríguez to release all political prisoners still held in the country's jails. The lifting of sanctions indicates warming relations between the Trump administration and Rodríguez's team, following the US reopening its embassy in Caracas after seven years. A Venezuelan diplomatic team has also recently moved to reopen its embassy in Washington. Despite these developments, critics point out a lack of discussions regarding democratic elections in Venezuela.
US Lifts Sanctions on Venezuelan Interim Leader Delcy Rodríguez
US Lifts Sanctions on Venezuelan Interim Leader Delcy Rodríguez
Following the removal of Nicolás Maduro, the US has lifted sanctions on Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's interim leader, in a sign of changing diplomatic relations.
The United States has lifted sanctions on Delcy Rodríguez, interim leader of Venezuela, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations after the recent upheaval in the country. Rodríguez, who was placed on the sanctions list in 2018, welcomes the decision as a step towards normalizing bilateral relations. The move follows the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, and while some experts see it as an opportunity for recovery, opposition activists remain skeptical, calling for more emphasis on political reform and the release of political prisoners.
