U.S. lifts sanctions on Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodríguez

The U.S. has lifted sanctions on Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president, signaling diplomatic recognition of her authority following the U.S. military's capture of her predecessor, Nicolás Maduro. The sanctions relief marks a significant shift in American policy toward Venezuela after years of economic pressure under the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign against Maduro's government. By removing restrictions on Rodríguez, the White House is effectively endorsing her legitimacy as Venezuela's leader and opening potential channels for engagement with Caracas. The move could reshape U.S.-Venezuela relations and have ripple effects across Latin America, where multiple countries had backed competing claims to Venezuela's leadership. The decision comes as the Trump administration recalibrates its approach to the region's most economically troubled nation.