Venezuela's Rodriguez Demands Full Sanctions Lift Amid US Detente

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez has called on the United States to completely lift economic sanctions, arguing that recent limited relief measures are insufficient to stabilize the nation's turbulent economy. Her remarks followed a US Treasury announcement issuing new licenses for transactions with specific Venezuelan banks and individuals. Rodriguez emphasized that a sanction-free environment is essential to provide legal certainty for foreign investors, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s priority to open Venezuela to international investment. Since assuming power less than four months ago after the removal of Nicolas Maduro, Rodriguez has sought cooperation with the Trump administration, passing laws to loosen oil and mining restrictions and authorizing an amnesty bill. Despite these efforts and the reopening of the US embassy in Caracas, domestic unrest persists, with recent protests over wages and pensions highlighting ongoing economic hardships. Rodriguez recently met with US Assistant Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit to discuss potential energy projects, signaling continued diplomatic engagement. However, she maintains that full sanctions removal is critical for sustained economic recovery and institutional stability, rejecting partial measures as inadequate for addressing the country's deep-seated financial crisis.