Rubio reveals Venezuela greenlit Machado's homecoming weeks ago

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that Venezuela's interim government has authorized opposition leader Maria Corina Machado to reenter the country without interference. The U.S. officials had conveyed this permission to Machado's team weeks earlier, according to Rubio, as Washington pushes for a political transition dependent on cooperation from senior figures in the former government of Nicolas Maduro.

Rubio explained that U.S. officials told the interim authorities that Machado is a Venezuelan citizen who belongs in her country and should be allowed to return without issues. In response, the Venezuelan side confirmed she could fly into the airport if she wished. Rubio said his team then passed that message along to Machado.

The disclosure follows a period of intense activity in Venezuela. Approximately one month after Machado left the country, U.S. military forces captured Maduro and placed his deputy, Delcy Rodriguez, in control. Machado is now scheduled to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway. The Trump administration has been collaborating with Rodriguez on oil extraction and other matters, though it expects a transition to a democratically elected government. Machado has indicated she may run for president.

Rubio stated that the interim government is meeting agreed-upon deadlines to replace the Supreme Court and the electoral council. He argued that these institutions, which were used by Maduro to control political competition, must be overhauled quickly before credible presidential elections can occur. "You've got to change the infrastructure of the elections, not in 10 years, not in five years, not in two years," Rubio said, emphasizing the need for speed.

The State Secretary also cited compliance with U.S. national security demands, including reducing Iranian and Cuban influence and extraditing individuals wanted by American authorities. He noted that the administration uses sanctions relief and economic licenses as incentives for cooperation. When asked if Rodriguez and her brother Jorge, who leads the National Assembly, were offered immunity from prosecution, Rubio said there was "definitely no talk about prosecutions or anything of this nature." He did not directly answer if immunity had been formally offered.

Rubio said he only discouraged Machado from returning once, immediately after a specific event, to prioritize logistical operations for humanitarian relief. He defended the administration's economic deals with the interim government, including an oil deal, as necessary to attract private investment. He warned that if the interim authorities stop complying or try to harm the process, the U.S. will face problems, but he expressed confidence that they will continue to cooperate.

Separate from the Venezuela situation, Rubio discussed the U.S. relationship with Cuba. He stated that the administration is urging the Cuban government to make sweeping political and economic changes. After encouraging Cubans to work with the CIA to see positive change, Rubio said the island is a "totally different case from Venezuela" and needs "very dramatic change."