Rubio details Venezuela's early green light for Machado's return

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado returned to Venezuela on Sunday after U.S. officials confirmed that the interim government had cleared her entry weeks in advance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio disclosed the timeline on Monday, stating that the U.S. expectation was that Machado, a Venezuelan citizen, should be allowed to come home without interference.

Rubio explained that U.S. diplomats told the interim authorities that Machado belonged in her country and should return unperturbed. The response, according to Rubio, was that she could fly into the airport if she wanted to. The U.S. then communicated this clearance to Machado's team, facilitating her arrival a day before Rubio’s public remarks.

The return occurs as the Trump administration pushes for a political transition that relies on the cooperation of senior figures from the administration of former President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. forces captured Maduro about one month after Machado departed the country, leaving his deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, in control. The administration has since collaborated with Rodríguez on oil extraction and other issues while maintaining that Venezuela must eventually transition to a democratically elected government.

Rubio emphasized that the interim government is adhering to agreed-upon deadlines for replacing the country's Supreme Court and electoral council. He argued that these institutions, long used by Maduro’s government to control political competition, must be overhauled quickly before credible presidential elections can take place. No election date has been announced yet, but Rubio dismissed the possibility of indefinite delays.

“We have timelines that are agreed to. And so far, they've met every one of the timelines,” Rubio said. He added that the infrastructure of elections needs to change rapidly under the established schedules, rather than over a span of five or ten years. Rubio cited compliance with U.S. national security demands, such as diminishing Iranian and Cuban influence, as part of the cooperation framework.

The administration also uses sanctions relief and economic licenses as incentives for the interim government. When asked if Rodríguez 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 address whether immunity had been formally offered.

Rubio noted that he personally discouraged Machado from returning only immediately after the U.S. military operation. At that time, the logistical focus was on getting relief aid into the country. He defended the administration's economic deals with Venezuela, including an oil agreement that Machado has criticized, as a means to attract private investment. “She doesn't have to agree with it or like it,” Rubio said of the oil deal.

While expressing confidence in the interim authorities' cooperation, Rubio warned that failure to reach a negotiated transition could lead to a return to authoritarianism or armed conflict. He also commented on Cuba, stating that the island needs “very dramatic change” and is a different case from Venezuela. Hours after the Venezuela operation, he suggested that Cuban government officials would be concerned, noting that the administration has urged the island to make sweeping political and economic changes.