Venezuelan opposition leader vows to return after U.S. captures Maduro

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado pledged to return home following U.S. forces’ seizure of Nicolás Maduro, praising Trump and promising a democratic transition in Venezuela.

Media outlets reported on Tuesday that Venezuela’s main opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, has vowed to return home quickly following the U.S. seizure of Nicolás Maduro and praised President Donald Trump for the operation.

Reuters reported on Tuesday, January 6, that Machado, 58, who fled Venezuela in October to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, said her movement is ready to win free elections, claiming a decisive victory in the 2024 vote under what she called fraudulent conditions.

In her first interview since Maduro’s capture, Machado said she has not spoken to Trump since October but hailed his actions, calling the U.S. intervention a “huge step towards democratic transition” and pledging to restore rule of law, open markets, and bring exiles home.

Machado criticized Maduro’s interim vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, calling her an ally of Russia, China, and Iran, and warned that she could not be trusted by international investors or the Venezuelan people. Machado’s remarks came as 14 journalists were briefly detained in Caracas and shots were fired to disperse drones, though officials described the situation as calm.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, appeared in a New York court Monday, pleading not guilty to narcotics and narco-terrorism charges. Maduro maintains the charges are a pretext to seize Venezuela’s oil resources, while Rodriguez has been sworn in as interim president amid uncertainty over her cooperation with the U.S.

Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves, but mismanagement, underinvestment, and sanctions have reduced output to about 1.1 million barrels per day, a third of the 1970s levels. Analysts say U.S. control over Venezuelan oil could reshape energy dynamics in the Americas.

The U.S. intervention is the largest in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion, drawing condemnation from Russia, China, and leftist allies, while raising questions about legality and long-term stability.

Observers warn that Machado’s return could deepen political uncertainty, while U.S.-backed oil revival projects may face resistance. International calls emphasize adherence to law and dialogue to prevent further destabilization.

Experts say Venezuela’s future depends on negotiations among domestic leaders, the U.S., and international partners to balance democracy, stability, and economic recovery in a country facing years of political and economic crises.

The post Venezuelan opposition leader vows to return after U.S. captures Maduro appeared first on Khaama Press.