The United States of America has recently removed sanctions against Venezuelan interim President, Delcy Rodriguez.
This announcement of the sanctions removal came after it has been reported that, Rodriguez’s administration is getting ready to take over the boards of state oil firm PDVSA’s U.S. subsidiaries, including Citgo Petroleum.
According to the US Treasury Department website, it’s almost three months after U.S. forces seized the country’s then-President, Nicolas Maduro in a raid on the country.
The Trump administration has closely engaged with the interim government led by former Vice President and Maduro ally Rodriguez, sending U.S. energy and interior secretaries on visits to Caracas with potential investors, making an agreement for the U.S. to sell Venezuelan oil, praising changes to the oil and mining sectors that are meant to attract foreign capital and issuing sanctions waivers.
Last month,Washington formally recognised Rodriguez as Venezuela’s leader, opening the door for her government to reopen embassies and consulates in the U.S. hereby enabling the control of Venezuela-owned companies abroad.
The decision has received high praise by Rodriguez, saying in a post on X that it was “a step in the direction of normalising and strengthening relations between our countries.”
“We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of the sanctions currently in place on our country, enabling the building and guaranteeing of an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our peoples,” she said.
Earlier report said Rodriguez was making preparations to travel to the U.S. to meet with Trump.
Though she has met with high-level delegations from other countries, she has not yet met in person with a head of state in her current role.
However, top ranking officials in Maduro’s former government are sanctioned and several, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello and recent Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, face drug trafficking and other charges, which they deny.
Reuters.