U.S.–Venezuela Policy

María Corina Machado, whose party won the 2024 election, says the post‑Maduro transition led by U.S.-backed acting president Delcy Rodríguez is "unstoppable" but lacks legal legitimacy, arguing Rodríguez is following U.S. instructions and that the opposition has no contact with her interim government. At the same time, the U.S. has moved to seize and sell Venezuelan oil (citing 30–50 million barrels at market price), held meetings with major oil companies, dispatched senior intelligence officials to Caracas and interdicted tankers—actions that have raised legal, human‑rights and diplomatic concerns and provoked regional protests.

María Corina Machado told reporters the political transition set in motion after the U.S. operation that captured Nicolás Maduro is “unstoppable,” crediting U.S. military and economic pressure — including sanctions moves and seizures of Venezuelan tankers — with pushing acting president Delcy Rodríguez to loosen control, release some political prisoners and put forward a broad amnesty. Machado, who presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump during a White House meeting, said her movement is not negotiating with Rodríguez and warned the changes so far lack legal legitimacy even as hundreds of detainees remain behind bars.

The U.S. has dispatched career diplomat Laura Dogu as charge d’affaires to Caracas and acknowledged a limited number of diplomatic and technical personnel are already conducting initial assessments for a phased reopening of the embassy and consulates—the first full diplomatic presence since ties were severed in 2019. Venezuelan officials framed Dogu’s arrival as part of bilateral dialogue and linked reopening to oversight of Nicolás Maduro’s treatment in U.S. custody, while opposition figures such as Machado warned the interim government lacks democratic legitimacy and questioned whether U.S. engagement reflects broader opposition demands.