The opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado set foot on Venezuelan soil this Sunday for the first time in nearly 10 months, bringing an end to a long odyssey of failed attempts to return.
Machado confirmed it with a brief but powerful message on his social media: "I am here, with you".
According to a report from ABC, the return was made possible thanks to a diplomatic operation involving several countries, which faced no opposition from the White House. This circumstance has been described by the media that followed the case as crucial for the return to materialize.
RTVE confirmed that Machado was in Caracas, and according to ABC, she was scheduled to reappear publicly at the sanctuary of the Divina Pastora, in Barquisimeto, Lara state, one of the main centers of popular devotion in the country.
Machado had clandestinely left Venezuela in December 2025 by sea to Curacao, and then traveled to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, he attempted to return at least seven times through various routes, but without success.
The most notable episode of that long wait was the so-called "Operation Ítaca," in September, when Venezuela denied her entry on three consecutive attempts in less than 24 hours from Panama City, combining sea and air routes.
The relationship between Machado and the Trump Administration has been tense for months. In July, the State Department indicated that it did not consider his immediate return appropriate. In October, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Washington had communicated to Dutch authorities that it did not support his return, which resulted in the withdrawal of the landing permit in Curaçao.
The turn of events came in early October when Trump expressed optimism about Machado's return and stated publicly that "everything is going to be fine" when asked about her situation. The Secretary of State Marco Rubio, for his part, denied that Washington was obstructing her return.
The return comes at a time of high political tension. Since the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces on January 3rd, Washington has been negotiating with the interim government of Delcy Rodríguez the reorganization of institutions, the renewal of the Supreme Court and the National Electoral Council, and the conditions for future presidential elections.
Machado has publicly denounced that Washington left her out of those negotiations, which were progressing without her direct participation. On October 22, thousands of Venezuelans marched in Caracas and other states to demand elections and call for her return.
From exile in Spain, Edmundo González celebrated the return with an emotional message: “I am very excited to announce that our leader, my dear María Corina, is on Venezuelan territory. Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process.”
González also announced that he will follow the same path: "Very soon I will be with you and with her so that our country truly advances toward freedom. You know this, it is until the end."
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