The United States has officially removed sanctions against Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez. This decision by the U.S. Treasury Department is a strong diplomatic signal that Washington now formally recognizes her as the legitimate head of state.

This change in U.S. policy follows a dramatic operation on January 3, when the U.S. military captured Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas. The couple was taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges, to which they have pleaded not guilty.

Despite being in U.S. custody, Maduro is technically still recognized as president by Venezuela’s loyalist high court. The court declared his absence merely “temporary,” a move designed to preserve his international presidential protections and avoid an immediate new election.

Following Maduro’s capture, the court ordered Rodríguez to serve as acting president for a 90-day period, which is set to expire soon. However, this term can be extended for up to six months by the National Assembly, which is controlled by the ruling party and led by her brother.

The lifting of these sanctions highlights the Trump administration’s active and ongoing engagement with Rodríguez’s interim government.