U.S. lifts sanctions on Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez

U.S. lifts sanctions on Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez

April 2, 2026 2:44 AM ET
By The Associated Press

On Wednesday, the U.S. government lifted sanctions on Delcy Rodríguez, the acting President of Venezuela, as noted in an entry from the Office of Foreign Assets Control on the Treasury Department website.

This recent sanctions relief marks a significant acknowledgment by the United States of Rodríguez’s status as a legitimate authority in Venezuela, particularly following the capture of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, by U.S. military forces in Caracas on January 3.

Both Rodríguez and Maduro have been brought to New York to address drug trafficking charges, to which they have both entered pleas of not guilty.

The lifting of sanctions enables Rodríguez to engage more freely with U.S. companies and investors. In her statement, she expressed optimism for the future of U.S.-Venezuela relations, asserting, "We value President Donald Trump's decision as a step toward normalizing and strengthening relations between our countries. We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of current sanctions against our country, enabling us to build and guarantee an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our people."

Rodríguez and her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, were previously sanctioned by the U.S. during Trump's first term due to allegations of actions undermining Venezuelan democracy.

The Rodríguez siblings, alongside other members of Maduro’s close circle, were added to the Treasury's sanctions list in September 2018 following Maduro's controversial re-election.

The current Trump administration has opted to collaborate with Delcy Rodríguez instead of Venezuela's political opposition after the ousting of Maduro. She has been at the forefront of efforts to facilitate cooperation with the administration's gradual plan to revitalize the nation, attracting international investors and promoting Venezuela's extensive oil resources in global markets.

Last month, the administration recognized her as the "sole Head of State" of Venezuela in a U.S. federal court civil case.

In recent developments, the U.S. has eased sanctions on key Venezuelan industries, notably providing a broad authorization that permits state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. to sell Venezuelan oil directly to U.S. companies and to global markets.

Despite the lifted sanctions, Maduro retains the official title of president. Following the military operation in January, the ruling-party high court designated his absence as "temporary," which has enabled extended delays in elections and maintained his legal protections.