WASHINGTON — The United States removed economic sanctions against Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez on Wednesday, as confirmed by a Treasury Department listing on the Office of Foreign Assets Control website.
This sanctions removal sends a clear message that Washington acknowledges Rodríguez as Venezuela’s rightful leader following the January 3rd capture of former President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse by American military forces in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.
Both Maduro and his wife were transported to New York where they now face drug trafficking accusations, with both entering not guilty pleas.
Venezuelan officials have not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the sanctions relief.
The Treasury Department originally imposed sanctions on Rodríguez and her brother Jorge Rodríguez during the first Trump presidency for their alleged roles in weakening Venezuela’s democratic institutions.
The brother and sister duo, alongside other close Maduro associates, were placed on Treasury’s sanctions list in September 2018, following Maduro’s re-election victory in what international observers deemed fraudulent due to the exclusion of opposition candidates and political parties.
“Maduro has given Delcy Eloina Rodríguez Gomez and Jorge Jesus Rodríguez Gomez senior positions within the Venezuelan government to help him maintain power and solidify his authoritarian rule,” Treasury said in a statement at the time.
Since Maduro’s removal just months ago, Rodríguez has spearheaded Venezuela’s collaborative efforts with the Trump administration, promoting her petroleum-wealthy country to global investors while embracing private investment, international arbitration processes, and external oversight.
From a legal standpoint, Maduro remains Venezuela’s official president.
Following the January 3rd military operation, Venezuela’s government-aligned supreme court ruled his absence as “temporary,” which avoided the requirement for immediate elections while maintaining his presidential protections under international law. The court authorized Rodríguez to serve for up to 90 days, with potential extension to six months pending approval from the National Assembly, which remains under ruling party control and is led by her brother.
The 90-day authorization period concludes this Friday.
