The United States has officially lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, marking a significant shift in diplomatic relations and economic engagement between the two countries. The decision, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department, comes less than three months after U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro during a raid in Caracas.
The move signals Washington’s recognition of Rodríguez as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and opens the door for her government to regain control over Venezuelan state-owned assets abroad. This includes key holdings such as the U.S.-based oil company Citgo Petroleum, long considered one of Venezuela’s most valuable foreign assets.
The Trump administration has been actively engaging with Rodríguez’s interim government, sending high-level delegations to Caracas and encouraging foreign investment in Venezuela’s oil and mining sectors. In March, the U.S. formally recognized Rodríguez’s leadership, allowing her administration to reopen embassies and consulates in the United States and reestablish economic ties.
Rodríguez welcomed the decision, calling it a positive step toward normalizing bilateral relations. She expressed hope that the move would lead to the full lifting of remaining sanctions and pave the way for stronger cooperation between the two nations.
Meanwhile, her administration is reportedly preparing to take control of the boards of PDVSA’s U.S. subsidiaries, including Citgo, which has been managed by opposition-appointed officials since 2019.
Despite the diplomatic progress, tensions remain. Several senior officials from Maduro’s former government are still under U.S. sanctions and face criminal charges, while reports suggest Washington is quietly building legal pressure against Rodríguez to maintain leverage in ongoing negotiations.
The latest development highlights a major turning point in U.S.–Venezuela relations, with both sides signaling a willingness to rebuild ties while navigating ongoing political and legal complexities.