Machado: Why I must return to Venezuela — and 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 century. American companies taught us to produce oil and brought us our national sport: baseball.

After 27 years of socialist destruction, we want the United States back as our leading trading partner, and we want Venezuela to be a reliable American energy source.

Venezuela can produce well over 5 million barrels a day with some $200 billion in investment. Oil companies may drill under almost any government, but capital on that scale requires 20- to 30-year contracts that bind future governments. Sustaining that investment requires a predictable legal framework, contract enforcement and a competitive fiscal regime — all possible only under a Western rule of law.

The challenge goes beyond resources. The same long-term certainty is needed to rebuild the power grid, ports, water systems and digital infrastructure, as well as institutions, territorial control, justice, education and health. We have the plans and teams.

Strong institutions must give investors long-term safeguards, grounded in the rule of law rather than external pressure. They also prevent Chavismo from returning to its old methods.

A legitimately elected government can provide that certainty without costing American taxpayers a dollar. Private capital can finance our recovery transparently.

We want all of this in freedom and democracy, with both countries winning. As leader of the civic movement millions made their own, I’ve made this commitment: Venezuela will honor contracts, protect private property and build a lasting strategic alliance with the United States.

That is also why my return is urgent. My duty is to accompany our people and channel growing social tensions peacefully. I must be there, deepening citizen organization, strengthening our civic network and forging a national agreement among civilians and the military. I will return and travel the country, preparing Venezuela to rebuild its institutions, economy and democracy, and become America’s strongest partner in the hemisphere.

That is why the next strategic step is to set a date for presidential elections within the next year, with a roadmap for the reforms needed to make them free and fair. A firm date will give Venezuelans a horizon for organizing and participating, bringing society into the process begun by Maduro’s arrest. To those who fear elections could bring instability, the opposite is true: They will unite the country and bring certainty. The previous election showed millions can and will organize peacefully for democratic change.

Lasting stability rests on commitments made with a legitimate government backed by Venezuelans. Security cooperation requires legitimate command. Our vision is to turn government agreements into state policy that can outlast governments. 

Ultimately, stability depends on our people’s participation. That cannot wait until the transition ends; it is the strongest guarantee of its success.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated Venezuela must hold free elections. We agree. Venezuelans need to know when.

On January 3, President Trump did what many thought impossible. Now we can turn that into a lasting strategic victory: a stable, democratic, prosperous Venezuela allied with the United States, open to American investment and contributing to hemispheric security.

Venezuelans are ready to do what it takes. We have shown we can organize, vote and peacefully defend our will. Bringing that force into this process through an election timetable will not put the gains at risk. It will secure them.

January 3 opened the door. Venezuelans are ready to walk through it and never turn back.

María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight to restore freedom in Venezuela and defeat the authoritarian regime of Nicolás Maduro.