By Micah Jonah
January 17, 2026
Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado has outlined a future vision of close alignment with the United States, saying Venezuela would become Washington’s strongest ally in the Americas, following the removal of President Nicolas Maduro.
Machado made the remarks during her first formal news conference since leaving Venezuela in December, speaking on Friday at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, a conservative policy institute. Her appearance came a day after she held a closed door meeting with United States President, Donald Trump at the White House.
She described a future government that would work closely with the United States on political, economic and security matters, adding that Venezuela’s recovery would be built on merit based opportunities rather than state dependency.
Machado also expressed support for the current interim government led by Delcy Rodriguez, saying it would carry out the difficult tasks required during what she described as a complex, delicate transition period. While acknowledging Rodriguez’s political alignment with countries, such as; Russia, China and Iran, Machado said the process required stability before democratic structures could be restored.
The Trump administration has formally recognised the Rodriguez administration following the military operation earlier this month that led to Maduro being taken to the United States to face trial. The White House has not announced a timeline for new elections or a full return to civilian democratic governance.
Machado said she and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia remain in constant communication and still believe they hold a mandate from voters, following disputed elections in 2024. The opposition previously released documents claiming Gonzalez won the vote by a wide margin, though official results were never fully published by electoral authorities.
Addressing migration, Machado welcomed recent steps by the interim government to resume acceptance of deportation flights from the United States, after nearly 200 Venezuelans were returned on Friday. She said restoring democracy and economic stability would encourage millions of displaced citizens to return home, easing migration pressures on neighbouring countries and the United States.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 7.9 million Venezuelans have fled the country in recent years due to political repression and economic hardship.
Machado also criticized the interim government’s announcement that hundreds of political prisoners had been released, saying many former detainees still face restrictions on movement and speech, and remain under surveillance. She said genuine reform would require closing detention centres, protecting journalists and allowing exiles to return safely.
During her visit to Washington, Machado met with supporters and US officials, publicly thanked President Trump for authorizing the military operation that led to Maduro’s removal, calling the action courageous and necessary for Venezuela’s future.
Although Trump previously questioned Machado’s ability to govern, she remains a leading figure within the opposition movement and continues to lobby for international backing as Venezuela navigates its post Maduro transition period.
Machado said her focus remains on securing international support, restoring democratic institutions and rebuilding the economy, adding that the country’s long term stability depends on cooperation with global partners, particularly the United States.
