Nobel Peace Prize Laureate María Corina Machado disclosed on Thursday that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump played a role in her escape from Venezuela. Machado, a prominent opposition leader facing an active arrest warrant under controversial “treason” charges, had been barred from leaving the country by the socialist regime of Nicolás Maduro. She was scheduled to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo but was unable to attend due to her precarious situation.
During a press conference in Norway, Machado confirmed U.S. assistance without providing specific details. “For reasons you mentioned, I cannot go into details because these are people who could be in danger. Certainly, the regime would have done everything in its power to prevent me from coming,” she stated. Despite the risks, she confirmed, “Yes, we did receive support from the United States government.”
Machado’s escape plan had been in the works for approximately two months. According to sources involved, she began her journey on Monday afternoon, utilizing a disguise to navigate through ten military checkpoints. She eventually reached a fishing boat bound for Curaçao and a private jet heading to Norway. The operation was reportedly coordinated with a Venezuelan network experienced in such extractions, which allegedly informed the U.S. military beforehand.
As she made her way out of Venezuela, U.S. Navy F-18s were observed flying in the Gulf of Venezuela, leading to speculation regarding their monitoring role during her escape. Machado arrived in Curaçao on Tuesday, where a private contractor assisted her before she continued to Norway aboard an executive jet provided by a Miami associate.
At the press conference, Machado was also asked about the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. She expressed that her country had already been effectively “invaded” by foreign powers, including Russia and Iran, as well as terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. “Some people talk about an invasion in Venezuela, and I answer: Venezuela has already been invaded. We have Russian agents. We have Iranian agents. We have terrorist groups operating freely,” she remarked.
Machado urged the international community to take action against the Maduro regime by cutting off its financial resources, which she claims come from drug and human trafficking, as well as the oil black market. “We ask the international community to cut those sources because the regimes supporting Maduro are very active and have turned Venezuela into a safe haven for their operations in Latin America,” she emphasized.
Despite her absence from the Nobel ceremony, Machado’s daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, accepted the award on her behalf. This moment underscores the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela and highlights the challenges faced by opposition leaders in the country.
