Trump to meet Machado on Thursday... Will he award him the Nobel Peace Prize?
In a significant development on the international political scene, a senior US official announced that President Donald Trump will hold a crucial meeting next Thursday with Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado. This meeting comes at a highly sensitive time in US-Venezuelan relations, amidst dramatic shifts in the power structure in Caracas.
Nobel Peace Prize controversy
The announcement of the meeting was not without the controversial tone characteristic of President Trump's pronouncements, as he hinted at the possibility that Machado might present him with her award. Reflecting his considerable confidence in his global role, Trump stated, "I heard she would like to give me her award; it would be a great honor," reiterating his conviction, expressed last week, that he is the most deserving person of this prestigious international prize, given his efforts to resolve international conflicts.
Political realism and the post-Maduro era
This meeting comes amid a complex political landscape in Venezuela, particularly following the arrest and current detention of former President Nicolás Maduro in the United States. While Trump's meeting with Machado is symbolic, the US administration is adopting a pragmatic approach to dealing with Caracas. White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt defended Washington's strategic decision to engage with the current ruling team, specifically acting President Delcy Rodríguez.
In an interview with Fox News, Levitt confirmed that the president and his national security team's assessment of the situation on the ground was accurate, noting tangible cooperation from the Venezuelan government. This approach indicates Washington's desire to maintain the stability of Venezuelan institutions and avoid widespread chaos that could affect energy security and migration in the region.
The future of the Venezuelan opposition
On another front, this meeting raises questions about the political future of Machado, who fled her country last December. While she enjoys international acclaim, culminating in the Nobel Peace Prize, President Trump believes she may not be qualified to lead Venezuela during this critical transitional phase, preferring to work with existing structures to ensure a smooth transfer of power or relative stability. This stance reflects the ongoing tension between symbolic support for democratic opposition forces and the geopolitical interests that necessitate dealing with those who effectively hold power on the ground.
Observers believe the meeting may be a political concession or an attempt to define a new role for the opposition abroad, while Washington continues to engineer its relations with the new regime in Caracas in a way that serves its strategic interests in the Western Hemisphere.
