WASHINGTON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States has removed sanctions on Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, according to an update posted on the website of the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday.
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control said Rodriguez had been removed from its sanctions list, without providing further details on the decision.
In a post on social media platform X, Rodriguez welcomed the move as a positive step toward normalizing and strengthening bilateral relations. She expressed hope that additional sanctions on Venezuela could be lifted to support economic development and cooperation.
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 Jan. 3, U.S. 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.
U.S.-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 U.S. Embassy in Caracas resumed operations after being closed for seven years. ■