In a bold declaration, veteran Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has vowed to become the country’s first female president “when the right time comes.” Machado’s comments come a day after she presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Donald Trump, hailing it as a recognition of his commitment to Venezuela’s freedom.
Machado’s political aspirations have been a subject of intense speculation in recent months, particularly after the US government’s dramatic seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on January 3rd. Machado has been a prominent figure in the Venezuelan opposition movement, and her party claimed victory in the widely contested 2024 elections.
However, Trump has so far declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela’s new leader, citing a lack of domestic support. Instead, the US president has been dealing with the country’s interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, who was previously Maduro’s vice-president.
In a move that has raised eyebrows, the director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, held a two-hour meeting with Rodríguez in Caracas on Friday, “at President Trump’s direction.” According to a US official, the meeting aimed to “build trust and communication” between the two countries, with discussions centered on potential economic collaboration and ensuring Venezuela is no longer a “safe haven” for America’s adversaries.
Speaking to reporters, Trump justified his decision to work with Rodríguez over Machado, drawing parallels to the US experience in Iraq more than 20 years ago. The president cautioned against hastily dismantling existing security and political structures, warning that such an approach had previously paved the way for the rise of the Islamic State group.
Undeterred, Machado expressed confidence in an “orderly transition” in Venezuela, describing her country as a “proud” and the “best ally” the US has ever had in the Americas. She dismissed any tensions between herself and Rodríguez, insisting that the real issue is the “criminal structure” of the Maduro regime and the will of the Venezuelan people.
Meanwhile, in Caracas, Rodríguez delivered her first state of the union address since taking over as interim president. She vowed to defend Venezuela’s “dignity and honour” through diplomatic and political dialogue with the US, and announced reforms to the oil industry to allow for more foreign investment – a departure from Maduro’s policies.
The complex political landscape in Venezuela continues to evolve, with Machado’s unwavering determination to lead the country and the US government’s shifting alliances within the Venezuelan opposition. As the country navigates this critical juncture, the fate of Venezuela’s democratic future remains uncertain.