Machado Says Venezuela Is At ‘Threshold Of Freedom’ | World News

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado stated that her country has reached the “threshold of freedom” and that the transition to democracy has already begun following the latest political developments and the US action against the Maduro regime.

“A new milestone was reached on January 3, 2026,” Machado said at a press conference in Washington. “We are now definitely in the first steps of a real transition to democracy,” he said.

Speaking at the Heritage Foundation, Machado called his presence in the United States extraordinary given the risks he faces in Venezuela. “It seems like a miracle to be sitting here in a free country,” he said, adding that Venezuelans have endured years of oppression without resources, money or a free press.

He credited the determination of ordinary citizens in pushing the movement forward. “Even without the resources, people determined to be free…can prevail even when faced with the most brutal tyranny,” he said. “The power of belief and the power of love are the strongest of all.”

Machado said Venezuelans who have never experienced democracy are risking their lives to demand dignity and justice. “It’s all about human dignity. It’s all about justice. It’s all about love,” he said, pointing to children growing up without parents, without education and without food.

He expressed his gratitude to President Donald Trump and the American people, saying the US action required “a lot of courage.” “Yes, he did it on behalf of the American people, but also because he cared about the Venezuelan people,” he said.

Machado said Trump personally delivered the message to him at a meeting earlier this week. “He told me this yesterday, and I think it was the most important message I could give to my country,” he said.

He highlighted the humanitarian consequences of the crisis, including political prisoners, exiles and widespread malnutrition. “We have a generation suffering from the highest level of malnutrition in a century,” he said.

Addressing concerns about instability, Machado argued that Venezuela’s transition will be different from those in other regions. “We are talking about perhaps the most harmonious society in the region,” he said. “Ninety percent of the population wants the same.”

He rejected comparisons with fragmented societies and said there were no religious, racial or regional divisions that led to conflict in Venezuela. “There was a longing that brought Venezuelans together,” he said. “We want our children to return home”

Machado said Venezuelans want dignity through work, not dependency. “Women don’t want handouts,” he said. “They want to make a living by doing their job well.”

He described the Venezuela of the future as “deeply pro-America”, separating the regime from the people. “It’s not the Venezuelan people, it’s not the armed forces,” he said.

Machado expressed confidence in an orderly transition. “The result of a stable transition will be a proud Venezuela that will be the best ally the United States has ever had in the Americas,” he said.

In the last meeting, he assured Venezuelans of final freedom. “Venezuela will be free,” he said, “and this will be achieved with the support of the American people and President Donald Trump.”