Caracas erupted in coordinated protests as Venezuela ramps up its battle against US-imposed sanctions through sweeping national rallies. National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez spearheaded the charge in San Felix’s Cerro El Gallo, calling for political solidarity to dismantle the economic siege. ‘Our aim is consensus and unrelenting pressure to end these sanctions,’ he told cheering crowds.
Initiated by Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on April 19, the movement features rallies in multiple regions including Julica, Tachira, and Amazonas. In her Julica speech, Rodriguez painted a grim picture of sanction-era hardships, where countless children suffered limited access to essentials. She vowed the nation would prevail over these ‘illegal aggressions.’
The initiative includes nationwide marches set to peak with a massive Caracas event on May Day. Notably, the US lifted personal sanctions on Rodriguez last month, a development she hailed on social media as progress toward healthier ties and hoped would extend to full economic relief.
Rodriguez, a veteran of Maduro’s administration and former vice president, faced US penalties in 2018 amid crackdowns on regime figures. The plot thickened with the US military’s bold January raid capturing Maduro and his spouse, relocating them to New York custody. Rodriguez assumed acting duties, fostering cautious US dialogue ever since.
Long-standing US-Venezuela friction shows cracks, with energy sector concessions hinting at pragmatism given Venezuela’s vast oil wealth. The US embassy’s Monday reopening after a seven-year hiatus underscores evolving diplomacy, as both sides navigate paths to potential reconciliation.
