As the U.S. Reopens Embassy in Caracas, Rubio Meets with Venezuela's Opposition Leader
On Tuesday, March 31, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado at the Department of State. This marks the second known face-to-face meeting between the two, occurring as the Trump administration advances a three-phase plan aimed at stabilizing Venezuela and opening the door to American investment.
Machado posted a photo of the meeting on her social media platform X, describing it as "fantastic." She wrote: "Thank you for your steadfast commitment to democracy, freedom, and the well-being of the Venezuelan people. The day when families are reunited in Venezuela is drawing ever closer! We are moving forward boldly!"
The day before the meeting, the United States officially reopened its embassy in Caracas; the U.S. government described the move as a "new chapter" in U.S.-Venezuela diplomatic relations.
On Monday, March 30, the Department of State stated: "The resumption of operations at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas represents a key milestone in implementing the President’s three-phase plan for Venezuela."
As of this article’s publication, the U.S. Department of State has not released any details about the meeting.
In an interview aired on Monday by Al Jazeera, Rubio said the situation in Venezuela is "progressing very well." The interview was shared on the Department of State’s official X account. The top U.S. diplomat noted that since January 3, when former President Nicolás Maduro was apprehended, Venezuela has seen significant stabilization.
Rubio said: "For the first time in decades, Venezuela is now able to sell its oil globally at full market prices, and the proceeds are flowing back into the country to benefit the Venezuelan people."
Rubio outlined the three concurrent phases of the U.S. strategy: stability, recovery, and comprehensive democratic transition. He pointed out that political prisoners have been released, independent media are now operational again, and various political parties are reorganizing.
"We’ve reopened the embassy. We’re talking to each other every day. We’re very positive about this," Rubio said.
Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, won the Venezuelan opposition primary election by a decisive margin but was later barred from running by the previous regime. She previously stated her support for the U.S. strategy, asserting that the democratic transition process has already begun in practice.
Machado has been aggressively pushing an ambitious energy agenda. Last week, speaking in Houston to Reuters, she said Venezuela could ultimately reach a daily oil production target of 5 million barrels—but emphasized that attracting the $150 billion in investment required would necessitate a rule-of-law environment, independent institutional structures, and robust contractual guarantees.
President Donald Trump received Machado in the Oval Office on January 15. During the meeting, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal as a token of gratitude for America’s actions against Maduro. The socialist leader had ruled Venezuela for approximately 13 years.
Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are currently on trial in New York, facing charges related to drug trafficking and drug-related terrorism. On January 3, U.S. forces captured both individuals during a military raid on Caracas. Maduro has faced U.S. prosecution since 2020. During his tenure, Venezuela’s economy collapsed, and he has been widely accused of manipulating the 2024 presidential election to remain in power.
Source: VOA
Original: toutiao.com/article/1861257506783369/
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