Washington – President Trump is signaling a potential recalibration of U.S. policy toward Venezuela, expressing willingness to consider a role for opposition leader maría Corina Machado amid ongoing discussions with Venezuelan officials. Machado, a vocal critic of the Maduro regime, has been actively lobbying in Washington this week for a firmer U.S. stance and her own return to the country to advocate for democratic change. The developments come as the U.S. continues to intercept oil tankers and exert economic pressure on Caracas, even as it maintains lines of dialog with the current government.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled a potential shift in his approach to Venezuela’s political transition, expressing openness to involving opposition leader María Corina Machado after initially dismissing her role. The development comes as Machado continues meetings in Washington, D.C., advocating for her return to Venezuela and a democratic shift in the country. This move underscores the complex and evolving U.S. strategy in the region.
During a press conference marking his first year in office on January 20, Trump stated, “Maybe we can involve her in some way. I would like to be able to do that.” The comment represents a notable change from previous statements regarding Machado’s participation in a potential transition government.
The president’s remarks followed a meeting with Machado last week, during which she presented him with a Nobel Peace Prize. Trump referenced the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the dismantling of Saddam Hussein’s regime as a parallel, explaining his initial preference for maintaining the current interim leadership under Delcy Rodríguez.
Despite this, Trump emphasized ongoing collaboration with Venezuelan authorities, stating, “We are working wonderfully with Venezuela,” in reference to cooperation with both Chavista officials and Rodríguez.
Simultaneously, the U.S. continues to exert pressure on Caracas. On Tuesday, officials announced the interception of another oil tanker in Caribbean waters near Venezuela, as part of a broader effort to prevent crude oil smuggling following the recent detention of President Nicolás Maduro on January 3. Washington now controls Venezuela’s oil resources with Rodríguez’s acquiescence.
“This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, intercepted without incident the motor vessel Sagitta,” according to a statement released by U.S. Southern Command. This marks the seventh oil tanker or vessel carrying crude oil seized by U.S. forces in recent weeks.
The statement further explained, “The detention of another vessel operating in defiance of President Trump’s quarantine on sanctioned ships in the Caribbean demonstrates our determination to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela is properly coordinated and legal.”
Machado also met Tuesday with Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Albert Ramdin, where she denounced the slow pace of releasing political prisoners in Venezuela and called for respect for human rights as a prerequisite for a genuine democratic transition.
In a second visit to Capitol Hill since arriving in Washington last week, Machado met with Republican lawmakers Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Carlos Giménez, all of Cuban-American descent, who confirmed the meeting on social media.
“Being released from prison is not the same as being free in Venezuela,” Machado stressed, calling for the full liberation of all political prisoners. “There can be no transition with repression. The first step is to dismantle the repressive apparatus,” she insisted, reiterating that representatives of the Chavista regime should not lead long-term changes in the country.
Machado concluded her day with a meeting with members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, while also stating her priority remains “returning to Venezuela” to continue her work from within the country.
The timing of her return remains uncertain. Democratic Representative George Meeks, the ranking member of the committee, told reporters, “She is aware that her timeline is different from the president’s.”
