US Eases Venezuela Bank Sanctions; Rodríguez Seeks Full Lift

Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez urged the United States on Tuesday to fully lift sanctions against her country, following an announcement from the U.S. Treasury Department that it would ease restrictions on transactions involving Venezuela's central bank and several state-owned financial institutions. The move comes amid a rapid improvement in bilateral relations since U.S. forces captured former President Nicolás Maduro in January, paving the way for economic reforms aimed at reviving Venezuela's battered oil sector.

The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued general licenses permitting U.S. dollar-denominated banking services, payments, and correspondent accounts with the Central Bank of Venezuela, as well as Banco de Venezuela, Banco del Tesoro, and Banco Digital de los Trabajadores. A separate license allows negotiations for commercial contracts with the Venezuelan government, subject to prior U.S. approval. Officials described the steps as essential to unlocking oil revenues and supporting economic recovery in a nation long isolated by sanctions imposed starting in 2019.

Rodríguez, who assumed the interim presidency after Maduro's detention,...