Venezuela pushes for broader sanctions relief despite US concessions

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez has renewed calls for the United States to fully lift sanctions, arguing that recent steps by Washington fall short of what is needed to stabilise the country’s economy.

Her comments on Tuesday followed a US Treasury Department decision to issue new licences allowing limited transactions with certain Venezuelan banks and individuals. The move signals a degree of easing, but stops well short of dismantling the broader sanctions framework.

Rodriguez made clear that partial relief would not be enough to shift the economic outlook.

“We reiterate the need to advance towards a Venezuela free of sanctions, as a means of providing institutional legal certainty to investors coming to our country – a setting where they are guaranteed sustained investment over time and a forward-looking perspective,” she wrote on social media.

The appeal is framed around investment, an area where both Caracas and Washington have overlapping interests. US President Donald Trump has prioritised opening Venezuela’s economy to foreign capital, particularly in sectors such as oil and mining.

Rodriguez, who took office less than four months ago after the removal of former President Nicolas Maduro, has moved to align parts of her policy agenda with those expectations. Her government has introduced measures to ease restrictions on energy and resource projects and has signalled openness to regulatory changes.

At the same time, domestic pressures remain visible. Protests last week saw workers call for higher wages and improved pensions, reflecting ongoing frustration with economic conditions.

Venezuela continues to face a prolonged crisis, shaped by a combination of internal challenges and external restrictions. While the US has begun to adjust its approach — reopening its embassy in Caracas and easing sanctions in selected sectors — the overall framework still limits financial flows and state revenues.

Under current arrangements, Venezuelan oil exports require US approval, with proceeds routed through a US-controlled account. The latest licences extend to institutions including the central bank and several state-owned financial entities, allowing more flexibility for commercial activity.

Another general licence was introduced to support “commercial-related negotiations” with the Venezuelan government, pointing to a gradual, managed shift rather than a full reset.

Rodriguez has indicated that further steps are necessary to unlock broader recovery, while also pledging to address labour concerns, including wages, in the coming weeks.

As part of ongoing engagement, she met on Tuesday with US Assistant Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit and expressed interest in consulting with energy companies on potential projects and regulatory adjustments.