Venezuelan opposition leader and recent recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, María Corina Machado, stated on Sunday that the regime of Nicolás Maduro "declared war on Venezuelans" and affirmed that the transition towards democracy in Venezuela "is already underway" and will be "orderly and peaceful."
In an interview with journalist Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, Machado condemned the Maduro regime for maintaining its power structure through drug trafficking, gold smuggling, arms, and human trafficking. She expressed support for the United States' offensive in the Caribbean aimed at destroying vessels linked to narco-terrorism.
"The only way to dismantle a criminal structure is to cut off its criminal income. We must sever the resources stemming from drug trafficking, smuggling, and human trafficking that Maduro operates from Venezuela," the opposition leader declared.
Machado argued that the Venezuelan dictator has implemented state terrorism within the country and narco-terrorism abroad, targeting nations across the Western Hemisphere. "Maduro started the war. President Trump is stopping it, he's ending the war," she asserted.
During the interview, the former deputy warned that Maduro is attempting to create a "false narrative" of a supposed violent transition, drawing comparisons to Libya or Iraq.
"This is completely false. There is no society more cohesive than the Venezuelan one, and 90% of the population wants to live in peace. But peace requires freedom, and freedom requires strength," she emphasized.
Machado's statements come amid the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, led by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and its strike group, under direct order from President Donald Trump.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the goal is to "dismantle transnational criminal organizations" operating from Venezuela and its surroundings.
According to the Pentagon, U.S. forces have destroyed at least ten vessels suspected of drug trafficking since September, some allegedly linked to the Tren de Aragua and networks operated by the Venezuelan regime.
In the most recent operation, six alleged narco-terrorists perished after a boat sank near the Venezuelan coast.
Although Caracas and Bogotá labeled the actions as "extrajudicial executions," the White House has defended the operations as part of a coordinated effort to protect national and regional security.
Machado concluded her remarks with a hopeful message: "We are moving from tyranny to democracy, from chaos to order, from misery to prosperity. The transition is underway, and it will be orderly and peaceful."
Key Questions about Venezuela's Transition to Democracy
What is María Corina Machado's stance on the Maduro regime?
María Corina Machado strongly opposes the Maduro regime, condemning it for declaring war on Venezuelans and maintaining power through criminal activities such as drug trafficking and smuggling.
How is the United States involved in Venezuela's situation?
The United States is involved through military operations in the Caribbean, aiming to dismantle criminal organizations linked to the Maduro regime, as part of a broader effort to ensure security in the region.
What are the expected outcomes of the transition in Venezuela?
The expected outcomes are a peaceful and orderly transition from tyranny to democracy, leading to improved order and prosperity for the Venezuelan people.