Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Colina Machado recently cautioned the Trump administration that Delcy Rodriguez, the interim president of Venezuela, does not accurately reflect the views of the Venezuelan populace.
“It’s important to note that Delcy Rodriguez is indeed a communist. She’s closely aligned with the Russian, Chinese, and Iranian regimes. However, that doesn’t represent the Venezuelan people or our military,” Machado expressed during an event hosted by the Heritage Foundation.
She pointed out that the situation is complicated by the continued activities of Nicolas Maduro’s allies who are still engaged in their “dirty work” following his capture earlier this month. Nonetheless, Machado’s group remains “deeply confident” about a potential, orderly transition of power.
Machado’s remarks coincided with reports of CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s meeting with Rodriguez in Caracas. They supposedly discussed intelligence cooperation and the necessity of preventing Venezuela from becoming a haven for U.S. adversaries.
Recently, Rodriguez, who previously supported Maduro, declared that the government would continue to release political prisoners under Maduro’s regime, describing this as a “new political moment,” according to the Associated Press.
Days before Rodriguez’s announcement, a transitional government freed at least four American prisoners, marking the first such releases since Maduro’s ousting in a U.S. military action.
During her talk at the Heritage Foundation, Machado proclaimed that Venezuela could become the “best ally” the U.S. has in the Americas. She mentioned a sense of unity among Venezuelans united by shared values, albeit facing tough choices and hardships due to the current regime.
After Maduro’s recent arrest, President Trump indicated that the U.S. would temporarily manage Venezuela, but details about a power transfer remain unclear.
Despite Trump not yet endorsing her, Machado met with him recently and expressed confidence in his administration’s pivotal role in Venezuela’s future. “I assure the Venezuelan people—freedom will come, supported by the American public and President Trump,” she stated.
Commending Trump’s efforts to capture Maduro, Machado remarked that it required “a lot of courage” to take such actions.
