Venezuela’s interim president remains sanctioned by Brussels

Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, close ally of former president Nicolás Maduro, remains under European Union sanctions, despite recent political developments.

Rodríguez, who was sworn in as Venezuela's acting president on January 5, 2026, faces an asset freeze and a ban on entering EU territory, according to the EU’s Venezuela sanctions regime. She has been listed on the EU's sanctions tracker since June 2018, Caliber.Az reports via Politico.

The EU's restrictive measures against Rodríguez, who holds significant sway in Maduro's regime, contrast with the approach of the Trump administration in the United States. While the EU continues to uphold its sanctions against Rodríguez, the Trump administration has shifted focus, engaging more directly with her and her government.

Rodríguez’s changed role raise questions about the EU’s stance on whether to reconsider her inclusion in the sanctions list, especially with the shifting dynamics in Venezuela's leadership.

In response to a query from Politico on whether Rodríguez’s delisting is under consideration, the European Commission has not provided a comment as of yet. 

By Sabina Mammadli