US sidelines María Corina Machado, backs new Venezuelan opposition figure for transition talks
Washington is reportedly sidelining María Corina Machado — the lead figure in the Venezuelan opposition — and backing a different opposition figure to negotiate a possible political transition with the government of Nicolás Maduro, El País reports. The shift is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to reframe the Venezuelan dossier. Machado's camp said it was 'surprised' and 'deeply concerned'.
El País reported on Friday that the Trump administration is moving María Corina Machado — long viewed as the lead figure of Venezuela's opposition — out of the centre of any negotiated transition with the Maduro government. Washington is reportedly backing a less prominent opposition figure who has held informal contacts with Caracas in recent months. The US State Department did not name a name but did not deny the report.
Machado's team called the move 'surprising' and 'a source of deep concern.' Latin America analysts read the shift as part of a Trump-era preference for direct negotiation over multilateral sanctions pressure. The Maduro government has not yet issued a formal statement.
The development comes alongside last month's reopening of talks on the Chevron operating licence and broader discussions on restructuring Venezuela's energy sector. The European Union, Spain and Colombia are weighing the regional implications. A White House statement and a coordinated response from the wider opposition coalition are expected in the coming days.
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