The U.S. has lifted sanctions against Venezuela's acting president, highlighting the positive development in relations between the two countries.
On 2 Apr 2026 GMT+7, the United States lifted sanctions imposed on Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's acting president, three months after U.S. forces raided the home of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, arresting him and transferring him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Rodriguez, a close ally of Maduro and his former vice president, was sanctioned in 2018 by the U.S., accused of undermining democracy.
Rodriguez was sworn in as president just days after the U.S. raid; President Donald Trump previously described her as a “very outstanding individual.”
Recently, Rodriguez expressed her satisfaction at being removed from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, which freezes assets in the U.S. and prohibits U.S. citizens from doing business with those listed.
Rodriguez posted on X that this is “an important step in the right direction to restore and strengthen our international relations.”
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated the move demonstrates progress “between the two countries in promoting stability, supporting economic recovery, and advancing political reconciliation in Venezuela.”
However, opposition activists in Caracas criticized the action, arguing that the U.S. should instead pressure Rodriguez to release all political prisoners still detained across the country.
The sanctions removal signals a warming of relations between the Trump administration and Rodriguez’s team.
Earlier this week, the U.S. officially reopened its embassy in Caracas after a seven-year closure, while Venezuelan diplomats were also dispatched to Washington to reopen their embassy there.
In recent months, several senior U.S. delegations have visited Venezuela to discuss ways to expand access to Venezuela's rich oil and mineral resources.
Critics of Rodriguez remain disappointed that there has been little mention of democratic elections.
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Source:bbc