Interim President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, revealed on Tuesday that Venezuelan assets in the United States have been unfrozen following discussions with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking during a broadcast on the state-run channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Rodríguez highlighted that the dialogue with Washington has opened "channels of communication based on respect and courtesy," which led to the partial release of Venezuelan resources that had been held abroad since 2019 due to international sanctions.
"We are setting up a work agenda, and within this framework, we are unblocking Venezuelan resources that belong to the Venezuelan people. This will allow us to invest significant funds in medical and hospital equipment," she stated.
Rodríguez mentioned that part of the released funds will also be allocated to modernizing the electrical system and the gas industry, sectors that have collapsed after years of mismanagement and corruption under the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
The announcement signifies the first concrete agreement between Caracas and Washington since the transition process began following the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3rd during a U.S. military operation.
Since then, the United States has closely monitored the actions of Rodríguez's administration, with her affirming that the government is already accessing Venezuela's frozen resources abroad to invest in health and infrastructure.
Rodríguez emphasized that her administration seeks to maintain a "diplomatic dialogue to resolve disputes" and insisted that the differences between the two nations should be settled "through political conversation and institutional respect."
"Since January 3rd, we have proposed that our disagreements be resolved through diplomacy, without impositions, from a standpoint of sovereignty and cooperation," the interim president expressed to officials and workers in the oil sector.
When questioned by the media about Rodríguez's statements, President Donald Trump commented on Tuesday that he maintains "a very good relationship" with the Venezuelan government. "I don't know exactly what's happening there, but we have a good relationship," he remarked in the White House garden, as reported by correspondent David Alandete.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also confirmed contacts with the Venezuelan interim government, emphasizing that Washington's strategy aims to ensure "a peaceful, orderly, and democratic transition" in the South American country.
In 2019, during his first term, Trump froze all assets and interests in assets of the Venezuelan government located in the United States, clarifying that they could not be "transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in."
For years, Maduro's regime accused that billions of dollars belonging to Venezuela, along with gold reserves, were blocked in international banks due to sanctions by the United States and the European Union.
These resources included accounts of the Central Bank of Venezuela, funds from PDVSA, and assets under the control of the U.S. Treasury Department.
FAQs on the Release of Venezuelan Funds
Why were Venezuelan funds frozen in the United States?
Venezuelan funds were frozen due to international sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union in response to the mismanagement and corruption under Nicolás Maduro's regime.
What will the released funds be used for?
The released funds will be invested in medical and hospital equipment, as well as in modernizing the electrical system and gas industry in Venezuela.
How did the U.S. and Venezuelan governments reach an agreement?
The agreement was reached through diplomatic dialogues and communication channels based on respect and courtesy between the two governments.