The U.S. Begins to Unfreeze Venezuelan Financial Assets Frozen Due to Sanctions 0 6

Venezuela has been under U.S. sanctions, including an oil embargo, since 2019. These sanctions were imposed following the 2018 presidential elections in Venezuela, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner; however, the opposition and many foreign countries, including the U.S., did not recognize his victory.

U.S. President Donald Trump during his first term also froze Venezuelan assets in international accounts. According to Maduro, in 2022, the volume of these frozen assets amounted to about 30 billion U.S. dollars.

"We are unfreezing the resources of Venezuela that belong to the people of Venezuela," Rodríguez stated on state television. "This will allow us to invest significant funds in hospital equipment — equipment that we are purchasing from the U.S. and other countries."

During Rodríguez's presidency, several agreements were reached between the U.S. and the regime she leads.

"I confirm what President Donald Trump said: we have established channels of communication characterized by respect and politeness — both with the President of the United States and with [U.S. Secretary of State] Marco Rubio, with whom we are forming a working agenda," Rodríguez said.

Rodríguez seeks to improve relations with Trump, who had previously warned of consequences if her interim government did not comply with Washington's demands. One of these demands is to grant the U.S. access to Venezuela's oil reserves.