Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado is adopting a new diplomatic approach to gain former President Donald Trump’s endorsement on Venezuela, leveraging shared anti-socialist rhetoric and economic reform plans. The move comes as U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela undergoes strategic recalibration.
- Machado’s new strategy targets former Trump supporters, particularly those in Florida and Texas with Venezuelan diaspora ties.
- The opposition’s proposed 10-year economic plan includes a 30% reduction in government expenditures over two years.
- Key sectors targeted for privatization include PDVSA, state-run electricity providers, and the national telecommunications network.
- Machado’s outreach coincides with growing U.S. interest in Venezuela’s oil production capacity, currently estimated at 750,000 barrels per day.
- The U.S. Department of State has recently approved $120 million in non-lethal aid to Venezuelan opposition groups in 2025.
- Trump’s 2024 campaign has publicly referenced Venezuela as a case study in failed socialism, citing a 95% inflation rate in 2023 as a key example.
María Corina Machado, a leading figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement, announced a restructured outreach campaign during a January 16 press event in Washington, D.C., aimed explicitly at re-engaging former U.S. President Donald Trump’s political base. The initiative focuses on aligning opposition goals with Trump’s 2024 campaign platform, particularly on issues of economic sovereignty and resistance to socialist governance. Machado emphasized her commitment to implementing a 10-year economic stabilization plan, including a proposed 30% reduction in government spending over two years and a phased privatization of state-owned enterprises, including PDVSA, Venezuela’s national oil company.