Former US President Donald Trump has revealed plans to meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado next week, marking a significant shift in his public stance towards her. This comes just days after a US-led military operation resulted in the capture of Venezuela's President, Nicolás Maduro.
A Surprising Turn and a Nobel Prize Remark
Trump's announcement represents a notable reversal. Over the weekend, he was dismissive of Machado, questioning her support within Venezuela. However, in a Fox News interview on Thursday, he stated, "she is coming in next week sometime" and that he looked forward to greeting her.
When asked if he would accept a Nobel Peace Prize from Machado, who won the award in October, Trump responded, "I've heard that she wants to do that. That'd be a great honour." This will be the first direct meeting between the two figures.
Political Prisoners Released Amidst Diplomatic Moves
In a related development, the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez, which assumed control after Maduro's capture, began releasing a significant number of political prisoners. This move is widely seen as a concession to US pressure.
Among those freed was former opposition candidate Enrique Marquez. Machado welcomed the releases in an audio message, declaring that "injustice will not last forever." Despite this progress, Trump cautioned that it would take time for Venezuela to reach a point where credible elections could be held.
Escalating Threats Against Drug Cartels
Separately, President Trump dramatically escalated his rhetoric against drug cartels in Latin America. He referred to ongoing US strikes on alleged drug boats, which have reportedly killed over 100 people since September, and issued a new threat.
"We are going to start now hitting land with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity. This threat of land-based strikes, potentially targeting cartel strongholds inside Mexico, signifies a major intensification of US policy.
Trump has previously suggested sending US troops into Mexico to combat cartels, an offer he claims was rebuffed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum has since asserted that the Americas "do not belong" to any single power.
The future governance of Venezuela remains uncertain, with Trump now engaging directly with a key opposition leader while maintaining pressure through military and diplomatic channels across the region.
