Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez has intensified calls for the complete removal of international sanctions, declaring that lifting more than 1,000 restrictive measures is essential for the country’s development and sovereignty. Speaking from the state of Zulia on April 19 during Independence Day commemorations, Rodríguez described the demand as a fundamental right tied to the well-being and future of the Venezuelan people.
Her remarks come at a time of evolving international relations, with partial sanctions relief already underway. The United States has recently eased some financial restrictions and lifted specific measures targeting Venezuelan leadership, signaling a gradual shift in policy but stopping short of a full rollback . Rodríguez argued that such limited steps are insufficient to stabilize the country’s economy or ensure long-term growth, insisting instead on the complete removal of all restrictions.
Addressing both domestic and international audiences, Rodríguez framed the issue as a collective national struggle rather than a political campaign. She described a nationwide movement, referred to as a “Grand National Pilgrimage,” aimed at uniting Venezuelans across social and political lines in opposition to sanctions. According to her, the initiative reflects a broader desire for peace, dialogue, and economic recovery, emphasizing that the country seeks cooperation rather than confrontation.
Rodríguez also directed a pointed message to governments in the United States and Europe, rejecting the notion that Venezuela is seeking concessions or aid. Instead, she asserted that the country is demanding its right to operate freely within the global economy, particularly in key sectors such as hydrocarbons. Sanctions, she argued, have severely impacted workers’ incomes and undermined national economic stability.
The acting president stressed that the continued restrictions have hindered Venezuela’s ability to fully participate in international markets, despite recent signs of re-engagement with global institutions. Moves by organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to resume dealings with Venezuela have raised hopes for economic recovery, but Rodríguez maintains that sanctions remain the primary obstacle to meaningful progress.
As the planned nationwide mobilization builds toward a major gathering in Caracas, Rodríguez is positioning the campaign as a defining moment for national unity. The culmination of the pilgrimage, expected to coincide with workers’ demonstrations, is intended to amplify public pressure for the lifting of sanctions and to reinforce the government’s message that economic independence is inseparable from national sovereignty.
