Venezuela gave U.S. weeks to clear Machado's return, Rubio says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Monday that Venezuela's interim government told Washington weeks ago that opposition leader Maria Corina Machado could return to the country without interference. The disclosure arrived one day after Machado arrived back in Venezuela. The timing is notable because the Trump administration is currently pressing the interim government to implement a political transition that depends on the cooperation of senior figures from the previous administration.

Rubio explained that U.S. officials communicated directly with the interim authorities. The U.S. position was that Machado is a Venezuelan citizen who belongs in her country and should return without problems. The interim government responded by saying she could fly into the airport if she wished. U.S. officials then relayed this permission to Machado's team.

The interim government is led by Delcy Rodríguez, the former deputy to President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. military forces captured Maduro roughly one month after Machado departed the country. Since then, the Trump administration has worked with Rodríguez on issues such as oil extraction. The U.S. has stated it expects Venezuela to eventually move to a democratically elected government, though no specific election date has been announced yet.

Rubio emphasized that the interim government is sticking to agreed-upon deadlines for replacing key institutions. These include the Supreme Court and the electoral council, which Maduro's government used to control political competition. Rubio said the interim government has met every timeline established so far. He argued that changes to election infrastructure must happen quickly rather than over a period of years.

The Secretary of State also cited compliance with U.S. national security demands. These demands include reducing Iranian and Cuban influence, pursuing criminal organizations, and extraditing individuals wanted by American authorities. Rubio noted that the U.S. can grant or withhold sanctions relief and economic licenses as incentives for the interim government to cooperate. He stated that the United States has significant influence over the direction and results of these talks.

When asked if Rodríguez and her brother Jorge, who leads the National Assembly, were offered incentives like immunity from prosecution, Rubio said there was no talk of prosecutions. He did not directly answer whether immunity was on the table. He noted that he only discouraged Machado from returning immediately after a specific event because the focus was on getting humanitarian relief aid into the country.

Machado has criticized aspects of the Trump administration's economic deals with Venezuela, including an oil agreement. Rubio defended the deal as a way to attract private investment. He said Machado does not have to agree with or like the deal, and that her objections are separate from the question of democratic elections.

Rubio warned that if the interim authorities stop complying or harm the process, the U.S. will face a problem. He expressed confidence that the interim authorities will continue cooperating. He also commented on Cuba, saying that if he lived in Havana and was in the government, he would be concerned about the situation. He noted that Cuba needs dramatic change and is a different case from Venezuela.