Machado flies home after US demands Venezuela honor its weeks-old return promise

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday that Venezuela's interim government gave the United States notice weeks ago that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was free to return to her home country. The disclosure came one day after Machado departed for Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. She left Venezuela roughly one month after U.S. military forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and installed his deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, as interim leader.

Rubio explained that U.S. officials contacted the interim authorities to state that Machado is a Venezuelan citizen who belongs in her country. They requested that she be allowed to return without facing problems. The interim government responded that she could fly into the airport if she wished. Rubio said the U.S. team then relayed that clearance to Machado's staff.

This development occurs as the Trump administration pushes for a political transition that relies on the cooperation of senior figures from Maduro's former government. The administration argues that an overhaul of Venezuela's judicial and electoral institutions is required before credible presidential elections can take place. Rubio insisted that the interim government is sticking to agreed-upon deadlines for replacing the Supreme Court and the electoral council. He noted that these institutions were long used by Maduro's government to control political competition.

Rubio stated that the U.S. has established timelines for changing the election infrastructure. He argued that these changes need to happen quickly. He said the interim authorities have met every timeline so far. He dismissed the possibility that Venezuelan authorities would indefinitely delay elections. He cited the U.S. ability to grant or withhold sanctions relief and economic licenses as an incentive for the interim government to cooperate.

The Secretary of State also pointed to the interim government's compliance with U.S. national security demands. These demands include diminishing Iranian and Cuban influence and pursuing criminal organizations. He said the U.S. is working to extradite individuals wanted by American authorities. When asked if incentives such as immunity from prosecution had been offered to Rodríguez and her brother Jorge, who leads the National Assembly, Rubio said there was no talk about prosecutions. He did not directly address whether immunity had been offered.

Rubio said he personally discouraged Machado from returning only once. That was immediately after a recent event, when the U.S. focused on getting planes with relief aid into the country. He said the logistical focus on humanitarian operations made a return difficult at that moment. Machado has criticized aspects of the Trump administration's economic deals with Venezuela's interim government, including an oil deal. Rubio defended the agreement as a way to attract private investment. He said her objections to the deal are separate from the question of democratic elections.

Rubio warned that failing to reach a negotiated transition could lead to a return to an authoritarian system or armed conflict. He expressed confidence that the interim authorities will continue cooperating. He said, "If that's the interim authorities that try to do harm to this process or stop complying, then we're gonna have a problem. But I don't expect that. I really, really don't." The administration has also suggested Cuba is in its sights, urging the island's government to make sweeping changes. Rubio said hours after the Venezuela operation that he would be concerned if he lived in Havana.

Last week, Rubio and the CIA encouraged Cubans in social media posts to work with the agency if they want to see positive change. When asked why he encouraged Cubans to work with the CIA rather than pursue peaceful political change, Rubio said he could not answer that question. He added that Cuba needs very dramatic change and is a totally different case from Venezuela. The next step involves watching the interim government meet its deadlines for replacing the Supreme Court and electoral council before an election date is announced.