THE United States has lifted sanctions on Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez, according to an Office of Foreign Assets Control entry on the Treasury Department website.

Announced on Wednesday, the sanctions relief is the latest US recognition of Ms Rodriguez as a legitimate authority in Venezuela, following the illegal US attack on the capital Caracas on January 3, during which 100 people were killed and President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores were kidnapped.

The couple have since been taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.

The lifting of the sanctions against Ms Rodriguez allows her more freedom to work with US companies and investors. 

“We value President Donald Trump’s decision as a step towards normalising and strengthening relations between our countries,” she said on her Telegram channel. 

“We trust that this progress will allow for the lifting of current sanctions against our country, enabling us to build and guarantee an effective bilateral co-operation agenda for the benefit of our people.”

Ms Rodriguez and her brother Jorge Rodriguez were hit with US sanctions during President Donald Trump’s first term for allegedly undermining Venezuelan democracy.

Last month, the Trump administration recognised her as Venezuela’s “sole head of state” as part of a civil court case.