US lifts sanctions on Venezuela's acting president
Washington, April 2
The United States has removed sanctions on Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, according to an update posted on the website of the US Treasury Department.
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Wednesday (Local time) said Rodriguez had been removed from its sanctions list, without providing further details on the decision, reports Xinhua news agency.
In a post on social media platform X, Rodriguez welcomed the move as a positive step toward normalising and strengthening bilateral relations. She expressed hope that additional sanctions on Venezuela could be lifted to support economic development and cooperation.
"President Trump's decision is a significant step in the right direction to normalise and strengthen relations between our countries. We trust that this progress and determination will ultimately lead to the lifting of the additional active sanctions on our country," she posted.
"This will allow for rapid economic development, investment, and an effective bilateral cooperation agenda for the benefit of our peoples. Let's keep working toward a prosperous Venezuela for all!" Rodriguez added.
Rodriguez previously served as vice president under President Nicolas Maduro and was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 as part of measures targeting members of his government.
On January 3, US military forces launched a large-scale operation against Venezuela and forcibly seized Maduro and his wife before transporting them to New York. Rodriguez subsequently assumed the role of acting president, and Washington has since engaged with her administration.
US-Venezuela relations have long been strained. In recent months, the United States has eased certain restrictions, particularly in the energy sector. Venezuela holds some of the world's largest proven oil reserves and remains an important player in the global energy landscape.
On Monday, the US Embassy in Caracas resumed operations after being closed for seven years.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The part about the US military operation to seize Maduro is shocking! 😳 It reads like something from a movie. How can one country just invade and arrest the president of another? This sets a very dangerous precedent in international relations.
Good step. Sanctions mostly hurt the common people, not the leaders. If this helps Venezuela's economy recover, it's welcome. India should also push for more cooperation, maybe in oil trade. We need stable and diverse energy partners.
While engaging with new administrations is necessary, we must respectfully question the timing and the message. It feels like the US is rewarding someone who was part of the very government it condemned. Consistency in foreign policy matters for global trust.
The world is realigning. US needs friends (and oil) everywhere. India can learn from this - be flexible and deal with whoever is in power for national interest. Our foreign policy under Modi has been good at this balancing act. 🇮🇳
Hope the Venezuelan people benefit from this. Economic development is crucial. But the article mentions the acting president was previously sanctioned too. It's a complex situation. Main thing is stability and prosperity for ordinary citizens.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.