US lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s Rodriguez amid shifting ties

The United States has removed Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez from its sanctions list, signalling a shift in relations following the removal of Nicolas Maduro.

The US Treasury updated its records on Wednesday to show that Rodriguez is no longer on the Specially Designated Nationals list, effectively lifting restrictions that had frozen her assets and barred US entities from doing business with her since 2018.

The move reflects a broader recalibration in Washington’s approach to Venezuela after a US military operation earlier this year led to Maduro’s capture and detention in the United States, where he now faces charges.

Rodriguez welcomed the decision and framed it as a step toward normalising ties.

“President Trump’s decision is a significant step in the right direction to normalize and strengthen relations between our countries,” she said.

“We trust that this progress and determination will ultimately lead to the lifting of the additional active sanctions on our country.”

Previously sanctioned as part of what the US described as a group “involved in the destruction of democracy in Venezuela,” Rodriguez has taken a notably different approach since assuming leadership. Her government has moved to open key sectors of the economy, including oil and mining, to outside investment.

Those policy shifts align with Washington’s interests, even as the political context remains contentious.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were detained during the US operation and are awaiting trial. The action has been widely criticised by legal experts as a violation of international law, and Rodriguez herself has called for their return, though her criticism has been measured.

At the same time, her administration has pursued closer engagement with the US, including facilitating the reopening of the American embassy in Caracas after a seven-year closure.

The evolving relationship sits alongside continued pressure. Trump has made clear that US support is conditional, warning of further action if the new leadership does not align with his expectations.

“If she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,” he said earlier this year.