Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado disclosed on November 2, 2023, that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump played a role in her escape from Venezuela, where she faced an arrest warrant under controversial treason charges. Machado, who had been barred from leaving the country by the Maduro regime, was set to receive the Nobel Peace Prize but could not attend the ceremony in Oslo due to her precarious situation.
At a press conference following her arrival in Norway, Machado confirmed U.S. assistance but refrained from providing specific details, citing the risk to those involved. “First of all, I cannot go into details because these are people who could be in danger,” she stated. She emphasized the regime’s efforts to prevent her from escaping, noting, “They did not know where I was, where I was hiding in Venezuela.”
Machado’s escape was meticulously planned over two months, utilizing disguises to navigate past ten military checkpoints. According to reports, she managed to reach a fishing boat that took her to Curaçao before boarding a private jet to Norway. An unnamed source indicated that the operation was coordinated with U.S. military forces to ensure her safe passage. “We coordinated that she was going to leave by a specific area so that they would not blow up the boat,” the source claimed.
U.S. military activity in the region coincided with Machado’s escape, as flight-tracking data showed U.S. Navy F-18s operating nearby. After arriving in Curaçao on November 1, Machado was met by a private contractor specializing in extractions and spent a night in a hotel before continuing to Norway.
During the press conference, Machado addressed the broader implications of foreign influence in Venezuela. Responding to a question regarding military intervention, she remarked, “Venezuela has already been invaded. We have Russian agents. We have Iranian agents. We have terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas operating freely in accordance with the regime.” She urged the international community to take action against the Maduro regime by disrupting its funding sources from drug and human trafficking, as well as arms trafficking.
In Machado’s absence from the Nobel ceremony, her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado, represented her, meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and members of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. The event underscored the ongoing political turmoil in Venezuela, where Machado has emerged as a key figure in the opposition against the Maduro government.
Machado’s situation highlights the precarious nature of political dissent in Venezuela, where opposition leaders often face severe repercussions for their actions. Her calls for international support reflect a broader struggle for democracy in a country grappling with deep-rooted issues of governance and human rights violations.
