The International Monetary Fund has announced the resumption of its dealings with Venezuela, ending a suspension in place since March 2019. The decision, announced by Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, follows the views of a majority of the Fund's voting power. This shift comes shortly after the U.S. Treasury removed Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodriguez from its sanctions list. The IMF's last loan to Venezuela was issued in 2005, and relations were cut off amid international disputes over the country's leadership.

The IMF resumes formal engagement with Venezuela's interim government, ending a suspension since 2019. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva announces the decision.

The International Monetary Fund has announced that it is resuming its dealings with Venezuela, under its interim leadership, ending a suspension that had been in place for the past seven years due to government recognition issues.

In a statement issued on Thursday, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the decision follows the views of IMF members representing a majority of the Fund's total voting power and is consistent with long-standing institutional practice.

The Fund said it is now engaging with the Government of Venezuela for the first time since March 2019, under the administration of acting President Delcy Rodriguez.

"Guided by the views of International Monetary Fund (IMF) members representing a majority of the IMF's total voting power, and consistent with long-standing practice, the Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva today announced that the IMF is now dealing with the Government of Venezuela, under the administration of acting President Delcy Rodriguez. Venezuela has been a member of the IMF since December 1946. Dealings with Venezuela had been paused in March 2019, due to government recognition issues," the statement read.

The move marks a significant shift in the IMF's approach to Venezuela, which has been largely cut off from formal Fund engagement in recent years due to political uncertainty and competing claims over leadership recognition.

Georgieva, in a post on X, welcomed the IMF's decision to resume dealings with Venezuela, describing it as an important step aimed at ultimately benefiting the Venezuelan people.

"I welcome the decision to resume IMF dealings with Venezuela. This important step, guided by the views of our members, allows the Fund to re-engage in a way that can ultimately benefit the Venezuelan people," her post read.

The move comes days after the US Department of the Treasury removed Rodriguez from its sanctions list.