Trump Administration Blocks María Corina Machado’s Return to Venezuela After Earthquakes

The Trump administration effectively blocked Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s return after last week’s devastating earthquakes, according to reports cited by 조선일보 and Axios.

“From the White House While Washington coordinates with Delcy Rodríguez to manage the emergency, María Corina Machado has attempted to return to Venezuela twice to accompany the victims”

ABC

조선일보 said Machado’s chartered plane departed from Virginia, turned back en route to Curaçao, and that Dutch authorities revoked landing permission after the U.S. government identified she intended to enter Venezuela via boat after stopping in Curaçao.

ABC

Axios reported that U.S. officials said Machado’s repeated efforts to return had “saddled the State Department with ‘extra needless drama,’” and that her attempts could “threaten to inflame political tensions in Venezuela amid U.S.-assisted relief efforts.”

Axios also described Machado as a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who had ceremoniously gave her award to President Trump after U.S. forces ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and it said no date for a presidential election has been set.

Axios quoted a senior administration official saying, “It’s political opportunism and it’s grotesque,” after Machado’s attempts to return drew anger inside the Trump administration.

Axios also reported that another senior administration official said, “She wants a photo op of her passing out our aid,” and that “This is about her interests.”

Anadolu Ajansı

Semafor said U.S. officials urged Machado to be patient as she looked to go to Venezuela after the earthquakes, adding that one person familiar with the situation said Trump “isn’t against her returning, ” but “just doesn’t want to blow up the whole thing overnight.”

Semafor further reported that last week U.S. officials asked Machado to turn around as she headed to Venezuela on a trip that was initially approved by U.S. authorities, and that she tried again days later and was reportedly rebuffed by an airline concerned about facing repercussions from the Venezuelan government.

Machado said she planned to return to Venezuela to accompany people after the earthquakes, telling supporters in a video address, “I want to return to Venezuela to accompany you.”

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Axios

The Objective reported that Machado accused the Venezuelan government of trying to prevent her return and said the latest official tally left 1,719 dead and more than 5,000 injured after the June 24 earthquakes.

The Objective also quoted Machado saying, “The regime wants to block my return to Venezuela and that of thousands of compatriots who want to go to help,” and it said she insisted she would keep trying to return with the line, “I am ready and close to Venezuela and I will do whatever it takes to meet us there.”

COPE’s La Linterna segment described Machado as having attempted to return twice after the earthquakes without success, with the correspondent saying, “The Trump administration has halted that eagerness to return,” while also saying the U.S. did not provide her entry assistance.