Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called on her fellow citizens this Saturday to rise up "against a criminal regime that is on its way out" and urged the country's military to lay down their arms and join the people: "What is about to happen is already happening," she declared.
Her statement came via her X account (formerly Twitter), just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had made a decision concerning potential military actions against Nicolás Maduro's government.
"Dear Venezuelans, the roar of this land demanding freedom grows louder and resounds both inside and outside our borders. Thirty million of us are rebelling against a criminal regime that is departing, a regime that holds our heroes, the political prisoners, and an entire nation hostage," Machado expressed in the audio message she posted.
In her address, the Vente Venezuela leader condemned the oppressive tactics of the Chávez regime, accusing it of "deliberately suffocating" the population, "starving the people," and "tearing Venezuelan families apart." Machado specifically appealed to both civilian and military officials, urging them to "lower their weapons and join the people" in the decisive moment that, as she stated, "is almost here."
"Lower your weapons. Do not attack your people. Make the decision today to support Venezuela's freedom. What is about to happen is already happening. That critical hour is imminent. History, law, and the Venezuelan people will be your judges. Be part of Venezuela's bright future, not the ruin that tyranny has created," Machado implored.
She also highlighted the case of engineer Lewis Mendoza, who was kidnapped in Trujillo state, mentioning his daughter’s heart-wrenching cry for her father: "Those cries of pain will never leave you," added the opposition leader, referring to the suffering of the regime’s victims.
Machado's statement came a day after President Trump told the press, "I've made up my mind. I can't tell you what it will be," when asked about possible military actions against Venezuela.
The U.S. President had met with top Pentagon officials during the week, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine.
According to reports from the Washington Post, various military options were discussed during these meetings as part of "Operation Southern Spear," which aims to curb drug trafficking from Latin America.
Since August, the United States has bolstered its Caribbean presence with around 10,000 troops and the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, a move seen as direct pressure on Maduro's regime.
In her message, Machado directly addressed members of the Armed Forces, describing them as "the regime's worst hostages," forced to carry out heinous orders against their own people.
"No one needs a path to redemption more than those compelled to execute this barbarity, those who obey orders that ruin their brothers' lives. They feel guilt. They cannot look into the eyes of their children or their mothers," she emphasized.
The opposition leader concluded her message with a call for hope and action: "When the time comes, go out and embrace the people, your people. We know exactly how and when to take that step. Be a hero, not a criminal. Join us. Venezuela and your brothers await you."
Machado's words are viewed as a call for a civil-military uprising against the regime, amid increasing international pressure on Caracas and the potential for a U.S.-led military intervention looming on the horizon.
Key Questions about Venezuela's Political Crisis
What is Maria Corina Machado's message to the Venezuelan military?
Maria Corina Machado is urging the Venezuelan military to lower their weapons and join the people in the fight for freedom, emphasizing that the critical moment for change is imminent.
What actions has the U.S. taken regarding the situation in Venezuela?
The U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean, deploying around 10,000 troops and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, as part of pressure tactics against Maduro's regime.
How did Maria Corina Machado describe the Venezuelan military?
Machado described the Venezuelan military as the "worst hostages of the regime," forced to carry out oppressive orders against their own people, and urged them to seek redemption by joining the fight for freedom.