US suspends sanctions on Venezuela to aid earthquake rescue

The United States has announced a temporary four-month suspension of economic sanctions against Venezuela. This measure aims to facilitate rescue and relief operations in the wake of a devastating double earthquake that struck the country.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of the Treasury, all transactions connected to earthquake relief efforts in Venezuela, which would typically be forbidden under existing sanctions, are now permitted until October 23. The Treasury Department issued the necessary license on Thursday evening.

The powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.5 and 7.2 magnitude, hit Venezuela on Wednesday, resulting in at least 589 confirmed deaths according to Caracas authorities. International aid has begun arriving in the South American nation, which is grappling with a prolonged economic crisis. Rescue teams from Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland, and the United States are already on the ground, with more teams mobilizing from various other countries.

This sanction relief marks a potential thaw in U.S.-Venezuela relations, which have been strained since Washington imposed extensive sanctions in 2019. The U.S. had aimed to pressure then-President Nicolás Maduro, whom it deemed illegitimate. While the article mentions a past arrest of Maduro during a U.S. military operation and a shift towards supporting interim President Delcy Rodríguez, the primary focus remains on the humanitarian response to the earthquake.