Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, stated Sunday that she is “absolutely” supportive of President Donald Trump’s strategy toward Venezuela as his administration escalates pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s government.
“We, the Venezuelan people, are very grateful to him and to his administration,” Machado told CBS’ Face the Nation. “I believe he is a champion of freedom in this hemisphere.”
Machado acknowledged that stricter sanctions and potential oil industry seizures could worsen hardship for Venezuela’s already impoverished population. Yet she maintained additional pressure is necessary to improve conditions over time.
“What we’re doing is for the well-being of the Venezuelan people,” Machado said, adding that Maduro “declared a war on the Venezuelan people.” She described this conflict as including “hundreds of thousands of killings and forced executions” in recent years, attributing these deaths to the Venezuelan government.
Machado also alleged that the regime has “persecuted, tortured, killed, disappeared thousands of Venezuelans,” noting increased violence as it faces internal strain. When asked whether she supports more seizures and a blockade, Machado endorsed “every legal action through law enforcement” by U.S., Caribbean, Latin American, and European nations to “further block the illegal activities of the regime.”
“We need to increase the cost of staying in power by force,” she said. “Once you arrive at that point in which the cost of staying in power is higher than the cost of leaving power, the regime will fall apart,” adding that this could pave the way for a negotiated transition.
Machado noted Maduro remained in power following last year’s presidential election despite official vote tallies showing opposition candidates securing nearly 70% of the vote. She told CBS that circumstances have shifted significantly recently, describing Venezuela as “a totally different country.”
“Maduro is weaker than ever,” Machado said, claiming the armed forces and police are “divided and fractured” while the opposition remains “united.” She also cited a “credible threat” from Washington to the government.
“If we had ever had a chance to finally move ahead toward democracy in our country, it’s today,” she stated.
Machado asserted that “the wide majority of the military want change,” citing reported disobedience during last year’s vote and recent outreach from service members. When asked if she would welcome U.S. military action, Machado emphasized her desire for “more and more pressure” on Maduro, stating U.S. troops on the ground are unnecessary.
She also characterized the Maduro government as part of a “complex criminal structure,” alleging it has transformed Venezuela into a haven for international criminals and terrorists, including groups from Russia, Iran, Cuba, Hezbollah, Hamas, Colombian guerrillas, and drug cartels. Machado noted that some within the system might face justice after a transition but insisted, “We will search for justice, not revenge.”
Machado also expressed doubt that Russian President Vladimir Putin would prioritize supporting Maduro, questioning whether Russia has “resources to spare” and calling the regime’s collapse inevitable. She predicted that if Maduro leaves power, “tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands” of Venezuelan migrants would return home, describing a democratic transition as a “win-win situation.”
