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The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado asserted that Venezuela is going through a decisive moment, characterized by the military deployment of the United States off the coasts of the South American country and by the increasing internal fractures within chavismo.
In an interview with La Tercera, Machado stated that “the vast majority of the Armed Forces and civil security bodies are with us” and warned that the high commands will have to choose between “sinking with Maduro or saving themselves by supporting the transition process.”
A criminal regime under international pressure
Machado emphasized that the Venezuelan crisis is not only political but also criminal. He recalled that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has pointed out the regime for crimes against humanity and state terrorism, and denounced that the country with the largest oil reserves in the world has been reduced to misery “by a system designed to subjugate the population, expel millions, and enrich itself through looting and drug trafficking.”
In this regard, the opposition leader emphasized that, according to data from the DEA, 24% of the world's cocaine currently passes through Venezuela, which has become a key bridge for trafficking to the U.S. and Europe. In this context, she praised Washington's decision to treat the chavista regime as a criminal organization and deploy a naval force to confront the Cártel de los Soles.
Trump "is not playing around."
Machado supported the White House's offensive, stating that this time the situation is different from previous deployments.
"Venezuela is different after these five years of hunger and persecution, but also of organization. Today, more than 90% of Venezuelans are united around a common desire: to remove Maduro and rebuild the country," he stated.
When asked about possible fractures in the Armed Forces, she noted that the wear and tear is evident: “Never before, in all the structures that supported the regime, has there been such concern over what to do. The social pressure is irreversible and has reached the high command.”
In a previous interview with Fox News, he had already warned that “Trump is not joking” and that the generals are aware of it.
Maduro, increasingly isolated
The regime of Nicolás Maduro responded to the military deployment with the mobilization of 4.5 million militiamen and an increase in patrols with drones and warships. For Machado, this is a gesture of desperation: “The squares were empty. People are laughing at these threats. The country rejects it.”
The opposition leader also emphasized that international isolation is expanding. Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay have declared the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization, while Chile presented evidence in The Hague regarding the involvement of chavismo in the assassination of lieutenant Ojeda, carried out by the Tren de Aragua. “The information is damning. No one can deny that this is a criminal corporation,” she stated.
Regional Impact: Cuba in Focus
Machado reiterated that Maduro's departure will have a domino effect in the region, especially in Cuba. “The political, economic, and intelligence framework that connects Caracas with Havana will collapse with Maduro's fall. This will be the beginning of the end for the Cuban dictatorship,” she stated.
In line with previous statements, he insisted that the liberation of Venezuela will also mean the destabilization of other allied authoritarian regimes, such as Nicaragua.
Crucial hours
The leader concluded that the country is facing "crucial hours," during which the future of Venezuela and the continent will be determined, and called on the military to stand on the right side of history.
“There is no middle ground here. Either they sink with Maduro and his criminal system, or they contribute to saving Venezuela and save themselves as well. Freedom is near.”, he declared.
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