A major political chess game is unfolding in Venezuela. After U.S. forces seized leader Nicolas Maduro in January, the Trump administration initially worked with acting president Delcy Rodriguez, sidelining opposition figure María Corina Machado. But that’s about to change.
This week, a significant shift is on the horizon: Machado is scheduled to meet President Trump at the White House. This meeting signals a potential new direction in Washington’s strategy, which has a keen eye on Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Meanwhile, the human cost of Venezuela’s political turmoil remains tragically high. Caracas announced the release of 116 political prisoners, but human rights groups and heartbroken families dispute the numbers. They claim far fewer—perhaps only 50—have been freed out of an estimated 800 to 1,200. Families have camped outside prisons for days, desperate for news. Manuel Mendoza, waiting for his son, shared their agony: “It’s already been four nights waiting out in the open air, suffering.”
Machado herself has taken the cause to the highest levels, urging Pope Leo XIV to “intercede” for the “kidnapped and disappeared.” Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition’s presidential candidate, echoed the sentiment, stating that “every hour that passes is a new form of violence against families.”
Even as Rodriguez navigates these negotiations with Washington, making some ministerial changes, the core issues persist: the push for democratic transition, the release of all political prisoners, and the significant geopolitical interest in Venezuela’s resources. The upcoming meeting between Trump and Machado highlights the complex, evolving landscape, where human rights and strategic interests are intricately intertwined. The world watches to see if this diplomatic dance will truly lead to freedom for many.
