The political movements around Venezuela gained a new chapter with the intervention of the United States in the possible return of María Corina Machado. The main opposition figure was prevented from returning to the country by the American administration, at a delicate moment after recent earthquakes that devastated the Caribbean nation, causing the death of at least 3,500 individuals and generating widespread destruction.
In a strategic decision, the North American government, which maintains an alliance of convenience with interim president Delcy Rodríguez, considered that the opposition’s presence at that time would be inappropriate and opportunistic. Thus, the takeoff of the chartered plane that would transport Machado to Curaçao, the starting point for his sea crossing back to Venezuela, was aborted.
A State Department representative explained the move, stating that “introducing sensitive political elements at this juncture is detrimental to our humanitarian assistance efforts in the wake of this catastrophe.”
This new impediment further weakens Machado’s position, who last December, with North American assistance, had left Venezuela, where he lived in hiding, to take refuge in Oslo. On that occasion, shortly after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, she offered recognition to Donald Trump, known for his aspiration for such an honor.
If María Corina expected to be rewarded for this atypical movement and strengthen her ties with the then president, her expectations did not come true. The American politician, although he appreciates displays of loyalty, generally shows no appreciation for those who submit.
In January, after the capture and dismissal of Nicolás Maduro, Trump had signaled that this was not the ideal time for Machado to assume the Venezuelan leadership. He argued that “she does not have the support or respect within her own country”, and preferred to grant command to the vice president, keeping her under strict American supervision. This strategy aimed to guarantee regional stability and the geopolitical and economic interests of the United States, which assessed a moderate and submissive Chavista regime as more advantageous.
The recent earthquakes, however, changed the plans previously established by Trump, offering the opposition figure a new chance to end his period of exile and return to Venezuelan territory. Without valid travel documents, she blamed the Caracas government for preventing her return.
In reality, the ban on return came from the US administration, which frustrated Machado’s initiatives to return to his country, describing them as “grotesque political opportunism”. This episode served as a strong signal that she was once again marginalized by President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicating the absence of American support.
Given the complexity of these alliances, María Corina Machado’s political scenario appears challenging, with her own support relationships contributing to the difficulties in her path.
