CARACAS — Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez called on the United States on Tuesday to lift all economic sanctions currently targeting the nation's economy.
Speaking following recent US Treasury Department announcements, Rodriguez argued that limited sanctions relief has failed to stabilize the country's turbulent financial situation.
According to aljazeera.com, the US Treasury Department recently issued new licenses to permit transactions with specific Venezuelan banks and individuals.
Rodriguez framed the removal of these restrictions as a prerequisite for attracting the foreign investment prioritized by US President Donald Trump.
“We reiterate the need to advance towards a Venezuela free of sanctions, as a means of providing institutional legal certainty to investors coming to our country – a setting where they are guaranteed sustained investment over time and a forward-looking perspective,” Rodriguez wrote on social media.
Economic pressure and political shifts
The request follows a period of intense political transition in Caracas. Rodriguez, formerly Vice President, assumed the presidency less than four months ago after US military forces detained former President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.
Since her inauguration, the Rodriguez administration has attempted to align with Trump’s policy demands. The US President has sought to open Venezuela to foreign investment following decades of nationalization of major industries.
Trump has also maintained pressure regarding control over Venezuelan oil and mineral policies. The outlet reported that the US has used the threat of further military action to push the Rodriguez government toward alignment.
In response, Caracas has passed legislation to ease restrictions on mining and oil exploration. The government also introduced an amnesty bill intended to release political prisoners, though critics described the law as ambiguous.
Recent US actions have included reopening the embassy in Caracas and easing sanctions on certain oil sectors. Currently, the US approves all Venezuelan oil sales abroad, provided proceeds are held in a US-controlled bank account.
Tuesday’s specific relief targeted the central bank and state-owned entities including Banco de Venezuela, Tesoro, and Digital de los Trabajadores. A general license was also issued to facilitate commercial-related negotiations.
Rodriguez met with US Assistant Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit on Tuesday to discuss potential energy projects. She has also pledged to address domestic worker wage concerns on May 1.
