Home » Trump Engages with Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Amid Political Tensions

Trump Engages with Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Amid Political Tensions

written by Sathish Raman Source

President Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to discuss the country's future. This meeting comes amidst Trump's controversial support for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, raising questions about his commitment to democratic governance in Venezuela.

International

-Sathish Raman

Time

Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado recently met with President Donald Trump at the White House. This meeting occurred despite Trump's earlier dismissal of her potential leadership following a US military operation that captured former President Nicolás Maduro. Trump's administration has shown a willingness to collaborate with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro's vice president and remains influential in Venezuela's government.

Trump Meets with María Corina Machado
Representative image

President Trump met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to discuss the country's future. This meeting comes amidst Trump's controversial support for acting President Delcy Rodríguez, raising questions about his commitment to democratic governance in Venezuela.

The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, described Machado as "a remarkable and brave voice" for Venezuelans. However, no specific expectations were set for the meeting. Machado's party is believed to have won the 2024 elections, which Maduro rejected. She previously offered to share her Nobel Peace Prize with Trump, an honour he desires. Trump expressed a commitment to future Venezuelan elections but did not specify a timeline.

Trump's Stance on Machado

Despite Machado's efforts to align with the US government, Trump has been hesitant to endorse her. Shortly after Maduro's capture, Trump remarked that it would be challenging for Machado to lead due to a lack of domestic support and respect. Machado has carefully navigated her relationship with Trump, even after winning the Nobel Peace Prize last year, which she offered to share with him. The Nobel Institute declined this offer.

Machado's political journey began in 2004 when she co-founded Súmate, an NGO that promoted a referendum against then-President Hugo Chávez. Although the initiative failed, it marked the start of her opposition activities. In 2005, she faced charges of conspiracy after meeting President George W. Bush in Washington, an event that angered Chávez and his allies.

US-Venezuela Relations

The US has been actively involved in Venezuela's affairs since Maduro's ousting. Recently, US forces seized another sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela as part of broader efforts to control the country's oil resources. Following Maduro's capture, Venezuela has cooperated with the Trump administration. Acting President Rodríguez has taken a less confrontational stance towards Trump's policies and has released several prisoners detained under Maduro.

Trump recently had a "great conversation" with Rodríguez, marking their first discussion since Maduro's removal. He described their call as productive and expressed optimism about relations with Venezuela. Meanwhile, Machado continues her efforts to engage with US officials and maintain her presence on the international stage.

Machado's recent activities include a planned Senate meeting following her White House visit. Her Washington trip coincided with US forces' actions in the Caribbean Sea related to Venezuelan oil sanctions. Despite these developments, Trump's administration has not set high expectations for significant changes in their discussions with Machado.

Machado briefly resurfaced in Oslo last December when her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf. Her whereabouts had been largely unknown since she went into hiding after being detained in Caracas last year. As an industrial engineer and daughter of a steel magnate, Machado has long been a prominent figure challenging Venezuela's ruling party.

In recent years, she has rallied millions against Chávez’s successor, Maduro, during the disputed 2024 election. Despite credible evidence of electoral fraud, authorities loyal to the ruling party declared Maduro the winner. This led to widespread protests and a harsh crackdown by state security forces.

With inputs from PTI

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written by Sathish Raman Source

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