Machado Urges Venezuelan Vote, Stresses Importance of U.S. Alliance

María Corina Machado, winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, is emphasizing the critical role of the Venezuelan people in the nation's democratic transition and highlighting the importance of a strong alliance with the United States. Machado, who organized a significant civic movement leading to the July 28, 2024, election victory despite government repression, stated that her immediate return to Venezuela is crucial to guide the country toward stability and rebuild its institutions.

According to Machado, the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3 marked a historic turning point. She believes this event presents an opportunity to dismantle cartels, reduce foreign influence from Cuba, Russia, Iran, and China, build an energy partnership, and facilitate the return of millions of Venezuelans who have emigrated. However, she cautioned that these gains could be jeopardized if pressure on the existing regime eases while it still holds significant power.

Machado asserts that only a legitimately elected government can provide the confidence needed for millions of expatriates to return and for substantial foreign investment. "Venezuelans want our children home, a bright future and a lasting US alliance based on common values," she stated. She pointed to the July 28, 2024, election results, where, she claims, Venezuelans organized, voted, and verified outcomes despite censorship and imprisonment of her team, ultimately leading to an overwhelming victory.

The leader underscored Venezuela's potential as a stable, democratic nation with vast energy resources, including over 300 billion barrels of oil and significant gas reserves, located strategically close to Florida. She envisions Venezuela becoming a reliable energy source for the United States, a partnership that could require substantial private investment for recovery and reconstruction. "Venezuela can produce well over 5 million barrels a day with some $200 billion in investment," Machado noted, emphasizing the need for long-term contracts and a predictable legal framework grounded in the rule of law to attract such capital.

Machado stressed that rebuilding essential infrastructure like the power grid, ports, and water systems, as well as strengthening institutions, requires the same long-term certainty. She called for a clear roadmap for presidential elections to be set within the next year, believing that a firm election date will provide a horizon for citizen organization and participation, uniting the country and bringing certainty rather than instability.

She reiterated her commitment to honoring contracts, protecting private property, and building a strategic alliance with the United States. Machado plans to travel the country upon her return to deepen citizen organization, strengthen the civic network, and forge a national agreement among civilians and the military. "Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated Venezuela must hold free elections. We agree. Venezuelans need to know when," she concluded, emphasizing that an election timetable will secure, not risk, the progress made since Maduro's arrest.