Venezuela faces a complex political transformation following the dramatic removal of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado has announced her imminent return to the country, expressing confidence in her movement’s ability to secure overwhelming electoral victory in free elections. The 58-year-old Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who fled Venezuela in October, praised President Donald Trump’s “courageous vision” in dismantling what she termed Maduro’s “narcoterrorist regime.
Despite these developments, significant uncertainties persist. The Trump administration appears to be pursuing cooperation with interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other high-ranking officials from Maduro’s government—a strategy that has caused disappointment among opposition factions. This approach, reportedly advised by CIA officials, aims to maintain stability during the transition period.
Machado faces ongoing legal challenges, including investigations for allegedly inciting military rebellion. She has vehemently criticized Rodríguez, accusing her of designing systems of torture, corruption, and drug trafficking while serving as Maduro’s liaison with allies Russia, China, and Iran.
The economic dimension adds further complexity, with Venezuelan and US officials discussing resuming oil exports to American refineries. Venezuela’s oil sector, possessing the world’s largest reserves of approximately 303 billion barrels of heavy crude, has suffered years of decline due to mismanagement, underinvestment, and sanctions.
International reactions remain divided. Russia, China, and Venezuela’s regional allies have condemned the intervention—the largest US military action in Latin America since the 1989 Panama invasion. Meanwhile, UN human rights officials warn that the operation sets a concerning precedent that powerful nations may act without international consensus.
As Venezuelan authorities patrol streets and report military casualties from the operation, the nation stands at a crossroads between potential democratic restoration and continued political instability.