Washington, DC, 13 January (H.S.): US President Donald Trump will host Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the White House on Thursday, marking a potential thaw in relations after her sidelining following the US-led ouster of autocrat Nicolás Maduro earlier this month.

A senior administration official confirmed the meeting to Agence France-Presse on Monday, noting Machado's intention to present Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize—an accolade the president has long coveted. This development comes amid Trump's assertive posture on Venezuela, where US forces seized Maduro on January 3, paving the way for interim leadership under former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez.

Shift from Opposition Sideline

Machado, a Nobel laureate barred from Venezuela's July 2024 presidential race, received US backing alongside her proxy Edmundo González before Maduro's downfall. Yet, hours after the coup, Trump publicly questioned her respect to govern, favoring cooperation with Rodríguez's regime instead. Since then, Machado has lavished praise on Trump, offering her prize despite the Nobel Institute's stipulation that awards cannot be transferred.

Trump called accepting it a great honor last week, highlighting his administration's pivot toward pragmatic engagement in Caracas.

Strategic Cooperation with Interim Regime

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Rodríguez approach on Fox News Monday, citing a realistic assessment yielding complete cooperation from Venezuelan authorities—including on US oil seizures. Trump has repeatedly asserted that Washington will dictate Venezuela's trajectory post-Maduro, a claim Rodríguez denies while overseeing interim governance.

The meeting with Machado signals no full reversal but underscores Trump's deal-making style, balancing opposition outreach with resource-focused alliances amid Venezuela's vast oil reserves.

Broader Geopolitical Stakes

This engagement occurs against Trump's tariff threats on Iran-linked nations and Greenland ambitions, reflecting a muscular foreign policy prioritizing US economic leverage. Critics decry the interim setup as propping up Maduro allies, yet Leavitt emphasized tangible gains like stabilized oil flows.

As Thursday's sit-down looms, it could redefine US-Venezuela dynamics, with Machado's peace overture testing Trump's blend of diplomacy and dominance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar