US eases sanctions on state-run Venezuelan banks

The US Treasury Department issued a license authorizing commercial links with the Venezuelan state-run central bank and other major financial institutions. These sanctions, in place since 2019, had previously made it difficult for the affected banks to process and move money internationally. The easing could also pave the way for revenue generated by the sale of Venezuelan oil to the US to reach Venezuela.

Interim President Delcy Rodríguez has been lobbying for the complete lifting of all US sanctions, stating that temporary licenses do not provide long-term legal certainty. The Trump administration has praised Rodríguez for her cooperation, noting that under her leadership, Venezuela has opened its oil and mining industries to foreign investment. However, Venezuelan opposition politicians contend that power remains with Maduro loyalists, suggesting Rodríguez is merely reassigning key figures rather than sidelining them.