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U.S. President Donald Trump meets for the first time this Thursday with Venezuelan extremist opposition leader María Corina Machado, following the large-scale attack that Washington perpetrated against the South American country, which concluded with the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on January 3rd.
Previously, Trump made it clear that Machado will not be able to assume the leadership of the Latin American nation because she does not have "internal support or respect within the country." "I think it would be very difficult for her to be the leader," admitted the US president when asked about it earlier this month.
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In addition, the Republican reported on Wednesday that he had had an "excellent" conversation with the acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, to discuss various issues on the bilateral agenda, in terms of "oil, minerals, trade and […] national security". "We are making extraordinary progress as we help Venezuela stabilize and recover […]. This alliance between the U.S. and Venezuela will be spectacular for everyone. Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again, perhaps more than ever!", wrote Trump on his Truth Social network. In this same line, Rodríguez assured that the conversation took place in "a framework of mutual respect." Similarly, she confirmed that both addressed "a bilateral work agenda for the benefit" of the peoples of both nations, "as well as pending issues" between Caracas and Washington. For her part, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump's meeting with Machado. When asked by the press if the American president maintains his opinion about the far-rightist, the official pointed out: "At this moment his opinion on that matter has not changed." Meanwhile, she highlighted the relationship with the acting president Rodríguez, of whom she said has been "extremely cooperative", a matter that, she added, "everyone" has been able to see.Trump and the obsession with the Nobel Prize
The leader had openly expressed his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, attributing to himself the merit of having ended several conflicts around the world last year. However, the award was finally given to Machado. "Remember [...] that I alone ended eight wars, and Norway, a NATO member, foolishly chose not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize," he complained days ago. Two sources close to the White House pointed out to The Washington Post that Trump lost interest in promoting Machado as a political figure in Venezuela, after she accepted the Nobel Prize. Following Maduro's kidnapping, the extremist opposition attempted to 'remedy' the situation by offering to "share" the prize with the US president. Faced with the outburst, the Nobel Foundation was forced to clarify that the award was not transferable. "It cannot be revoked, shared or transferred. Once announced, the decision is valid forever", states the statement.U.S. Aggression and Kidnapping of Maduro
- USA launched a massive military aggression in Venezuelan territory on January 3, which affected Caracas and the states of Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira. The operation concluded with the kidnapping of Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
- Caracas described Washington's actions as a "very serious military aggression" and warned that the objective of the attacks "is none other than to seize Venezuela's strategic resources, in particular its oil and minerals, trying to break the nation's political independence by force."
- The Venezuelan president and the first lady were transferred to the North American country and are currently held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.
- Maduro pleaded innocent in his first hearing before the US Justice Department, in the Southern District Court of New York, where he was accused of narcoterrorism.
- The Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, swore as acting president of the South American country on January 5.
- Many countries in the world, including Russia, urged to release Maduro and his wife. Moscow repudiated the attack and pointed out that Venezuela must have the right to decide its destiny without any type of intervention from abroad.
