IMF Resumes Venezuela Engagement After Political Shift

The International Monetary Fund announced on Thursday that it has resumed dealings with Venezuela under interim President Delcy Rodriguez, a move that could unlock billions of dollars in frozen international funding for the South American nation after more than six years of suspended engagement.

The decision, echoed by the World Bank, follows a poll of IMF members representing a majority of the organization's voting power and aligns with its longstanding practices for recognizing governments. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described the step as guided by member views and positioned to benefit Venezuelans through renewed economic reengagement. Relations had been frozen since 2019 amid international disputes over governmental legitimacy following Venezuela's contested 2018 presidential election.

The resumption comes amid a rapid shift in Venezuela's political landscape. On January 3, U.S. forces conducted a raid in Caracas that led to the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro, after which Rodriguez, previously the vice president, assumed the role of interim leader. The Trump administration has since recognized her government, prioritizing stability over support...