• The US lifted sanctions on Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez on April 1.
• This decision follows the US military's capture of Nicolás Maduro.
• Rodriguez aims to open Venezuela's energy sector to US companies.

The United States has officially lifted sanctions against Delcy Rodriguez, Venezuela's interim president, as announced by the US Department of the Treasury. This decision marks a significant shift in US-Venezuela relations and follows the US military's capture of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro, during a raid conducted earlier this year on January 3. Rodriguez's removal from the Specially Designated Nationals List allows her greater access to previously blocked assets and facilitates dealings with US companies, according to Reuters and Le Monde.

Relations between Washington and Caracas have improved since Rodriguez took power, with US President Donald Trump commending her compliance with requests to open Venezuela's oil industry to American investment. Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro's deputy, was specifically sanctioned for her involvement in his administration. Following her ousting of Maduro, Rodriguez has attempted to balance the demands of the US and the support from her domestic allies, indicated by her dismissal of key Maduro loyalists to strengthen her position, according to Al Jazeera and CBS News.

Shortly after the sanctions were lifted, Rodriguez expressed her gratitude towards Trump in a Telegram message, viewing the sanction removal as a crucial step to normalize relations. "We trust that this progress will ultimately lead to the lifting of additional active sanctions on our country," she stated, promoting a vision for cooperation between the US and Venezuela. The reopening of the US Embassy in Caracas further symbolizes this warming, marking the first operational presence after years of closure, as noted by both Reuters and Le Monde.