Machado: Why I must return to Venezuelaand the people must vote
On January 3, President Trump changed our history: Nicolás Maduro, head of the criminal structure that held Venezuela hostage for nearly three decades, was captured and brought to justice.What many thought impossible happened.Since then, our countries have had a historic opportunity: dismantle cartels, roll back Cuban, Russian, Iranian and Chinese influence, build an energy partnership, and bring millions home.We are determined to seize it, knowing that for this process to succeed, one force must be fully engaged: the Venezuelan people.Venezuela is not Iraq or Afghanistan.
We are a cohesive society without deep ethnic or religious divisions.We once had Latin America’s most stable democracy and vibrant economy.
We lost both to a criminal socialist regime.The result was misery, violence, Tren de Aragua, Cartel de los Soles and our hemisphere’s largest migration crisis.That regime still retains much power.
If pressure eases while it holds de facto control, it will return to its old methods.Venezuelans want our children home, a bright future and a lasting US alliance based on common values.Millions abroad will return only with a clear path toward democratic transition.
Only an elected government can provide that confidence.That is what we voted for on July 28, 2024.Maduro censored the media, barred me from running and imprisoned my team.
But Venezuelans organized, voted, verified the results and overcame fraud and repression.We won overwhelmingly.Maduro imprisoned more than 2,000 people but could not hide the truth.
July 28 became our largest civic movement ever and proved Venezuelans are a guarantee of democratic stability and America’s best partner in the region.We are a peaceful Western nation, committed to freedom and democracy, ravaged by socialism yet endowed with over 300 billion barrels of oil, vast gas reserves, hydroelectric potential and critical minerals … all just three hours from Florida.The United States has been our natural partner for a c...