President: Do not forget about Venezuela

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado announced on Sunday that she had returned to her homeland after nearly a year in exile. In a brief post on the social media platform X, written in Spanish, Machado stated, "I am here. With you." Her announcement was immediately shared by Edmundo González Urrutia, the opposition candidate who claims victory in the July 2024 presidential elections. González, currently residing in Spain, described the moment as pivotal for the nation, asserting that the country’s sovereign voice had returned to lead the political process. Images released by Machado’s organization, Comando con Venezuela, showed her arriving at a church in the state of Lara, specifically the sanctuary of the Divine Shepherdess in Barquisimeto. Witnesses reported that crowds greeted her inside the temple, shouting, "Your people are here, Maria," while she stood surrounded by supporters, some of whom were visibly weeping. Machado’s return follows a prolonged period of obstruction. According to her party, Vente Venezuela, she attempted to re-enter Venezuela at least seven times without success. The first documented attempt occurred on September 21, when a sea voyage from Panama was cancelled due to mechanical issues. Subsequent attempts on September 22, involving flights to Aruba and Curaçao, were also aborted. A journalist accompanying her efforts noted that she was effectively held in Panama despite holding a special Panamanian passport. These blocks occurred while Machado remained outside the country following a secret maritime extraction from Venezuela in December 2025, supported by the United States, which facilitated her travel to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. She subsequently visited several nations, including the United States, where she presented the medal to President Donald Trump. The circumstances surrounding her entry remain partially opaque, with conflicting accounts regarding the involvement of the White House. Trump told reporters in Washington that he was unaware of her arrival, describing her as a pleasant woman who had gifted him the Nobel award. He expressed hope for her safety and stated that relations with Venezuela were proceeding well. However, other reports suggest a coordinated diplomatic effort. One account cited a correspondent who spoke with Trump two weeks prior, claiming the president indicated the plan was already in motion and that Washington’s approval was necessary for the operation to succeed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that US-supported talks had created conditions for a safe return, noting that hundreds of political prisoners had been released and many opposition figures had returned from exile as part of these negotiations. The political landscape in Venezuela has shifted dramatically since the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro by US military forces in January. Maduro is currently detained in New York, facing charges related to drug trafficking, corruption, and torture. Following his removal, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of interim president. While Trump has frequently praised Rodríguez’s leadership and engaged in closed-door meetings with her, including one during the United Nations General Assembly, the opposition maintains that the regime continues to suppress democratic rights. Rodríguez has publicly affirmed that elections will take place in Venezuela but has refused to specify a date. Critics argue that the current arrangement undermines democratic legitimacy. They point out that while the US seeks access to Venezuelan oil resources, the leader who won the 2024 primary elections remains excluded from political transition talks. Observers note a contradiction in seeking economic cooperation with the successors of Maduro without guaranteeing autonomous decision-making for Venezuelans. Foreign investment, they argue, lacks value without democratic controls. Furthermore, the presence of armed groups and drug trafficking networks operating within Venezuela poses security threats to neighboring countries, particularly Colombia. Bilateral trade between Colombia and Venezuela reached $1.17 billion in 2025, a figure significantly lower than the over $7 billion recorded in 2008 before trade was curtailed under previous administrations. In response to the situation, Colombian President Miguel Uribe Turbay, referred to in local commentary as De la Espriella in one erroneous attribution but generally understood as the sitting head of state, faces pressure to advocate for a clear roadmap. This includes the secure return of political figures, guarantees for candidates, the release of all political prisoners, independent international observation, and free elections scheduled no later than the first half of 2027. Some analysts suggest that leveraging diplomatic channels with Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador could strengthen this position. For the US administration, announcing a verified democratic transition ahead of the November 3 elections could serve as a diplomatic achievement, potentially addressing concerns among Republican voters with Hispanic backgrounds who have distanced themselves from the current policy stance. Thousands of Venezuelans marched in cities across the country earlier in the week to demand Machado’s return. Her party continues to call for presidential elections in 2027. Despite the uncertainty regarding the exact timing and method of her entry, Machado’s presence on Venezuelan soil marks a significant shift in the ongoing struggle for democratic restoration. The focus now turns to whether her return will catalyze the promised electoral reforms or if further obstacles will emerge in the complex negotiations between the interim government, the US, and the opposition.