The US Treasury Department has removed Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela’s top lawmaker and brother of acting President Delcy Rodríguez, from its sanctions list. This decision lifts restrictions that previously barred Americans from doing business with him and froze his assets under US jurisdiction. The move is part of a broader effort by the Donald Trump administration to rebuild diplomatic ties with Venezuela following the Jan. 3 military operation that ousted Nicolás Maduro.
Since then, the government led by Delcy Rodríguez has cooperated closely with Washington, opening the oil industry to US investment and engaging in negotiations with the opposition. Broader US sanctions on Venezuela remain in place. Jorge Rodríguez, 60, is a key figure in Venezuela’s ruling party and leads the government’s delegation in US-backed talks aimed at reforming institutions and preparing for eventual elections.
A new round of negotiations is set to begin in Caracas, focusing on establishing a clear road map toward free and democratic elections. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need for a return to democracy 'as quickly as possible.' Opposition leader Dinorah Figuera will seek to establish a clear road map toward a vote. Previous rounds focused on rebuilding the judiciary, recovering state assets abroad, and easing restrictions on news websites.
The talks are taking place without opposition leader María Corina Machado, who remains sidelined despite leading in presidential voting intentions. Machado drew 52% support in September’s Lat Am Pulse, an Atlas Intel poll conducted for Bloomberg News, compared with 19% for acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
Source: Bloomberg Markets · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing