María Corina Machado endorses Trump's military strategy against Maduro, stating "Trump is finishing" the war

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, asserted on Wednesday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro "started this war" and that U.S. President Donald Trump "is finishing it," offering strong support for the U.S. administration's aggressive strategy against the Caracas regime.

Speaking virtually at the America Business Forum (ABF) in Miami, Machado defended the U.S. approach, which reportedly includes military actions and covert operations targeting the Maduro government. She participated in a videoconference discussion with Miami Mayor Francis Suárez.

Machado characterized the U.S. strategy as "absolutely correct" because, in her view, Nicolás Maduro is not a legitimate head of state. Instead, she described him as "the head of this narcoterrorist structure that carries out a war against the Venezuelan people."

The opposition leader's comments come amid reports that the Trump administration is analyzing the possibility of bombing military targets within Venezuela. The U.S. strategy has already involved military engagements, including the sinking of several vessels in the Caribbean linked to drug trafficking originating from Venezuela. These attacks have reportedly resulted in more than 60 fatalities. Additionally, the strategy includes authorizing covert CIA operations within Venezuelan territory.

Machado stressed that the impact of the Republican president's strategy has been "fundamental" in confronting the regime. She argued that the criminal groups operating in Venezuela have declared war on the free and democratic nations of the region.

Machado also addressed her recent Nobel Peace Prize, stating that the award was not only a deeply moving honor for her personally but also a recognition of the "courage and determination" of the Venezuelan people. She framed the award as a testament to a nation that has united to confront a "most ruthless criminal regime," guided by values such as dignity, justice, and freedom.

The Nobel laureate emphasized that the struggle against the regime represents an essential need to reunite families, bring back Venezuelan children who have fled the country, and rebuild the nation. She extended her call for freedom to include Nicaragua and Cuba, linking their struggles to that of Venezuela.

Machado's endorsement of the U.S. military strategy highlights the deep polarization within the region regarding the means necessary to remove the Maduro regime, which the U.S. and dozens of other nations consider illegitimate.