In a diplomatic U-turn that has surprised Washington insiders, the White House has confirmed that President Trump will meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado this Thursday. The invitation signals a thaw in relations between the mercurial US President and the Nobel Peace Prize winner, following weeks of tension over the future of post-Maduro Venezuela.

The context is dramatic. Just weeks ago, US special forces executed a daring extraction operation in Caracas, seizing Nicolas Maduro and transporting him to face justice in the US. In the power vacuum, the US initially bypassed Machado—who won the 2024 election—in favor of Delcy Rodríguez, a former Maduro vice-president seen as more malleable. Trump had even publicly disparaged Machado, calling her "weak" for accepting the Nobel Prize.

"A Great Honor"

Machado’s savvy diplomacy appears to have turned the tide. By publicly stating she wished to "gift" her Nobel Prize to Trump in gratitude for removing the dictator, she stroked the President's ego and forced a re-evaluation. "I will have to speak to her," Trump told reporters yesterday. "She's a very nice woman. I think it's very nice that she wants to come in."

• The Strategic Calculation: Analysts believe the US realized that Rodríguez lacks legitimacy on the street. Machado commands the loyalty of the Venezuelan masses. Stabilizing the oil-rich nation requires her blessing.
• The Oil Factor: With global energy markets volatile due to the Iran crisis, the US is desperate to bring Venezuelan crude back online. A handshake between Trump and Machado could unlock billions in investment and sanction relief.

A New Chapter?

The meeting is high-stakes. If Machado can secure US endorsement, she solidifies her claim to the presidency. If she fails, Venezuela risks sliding into a new cycle of civil conflict. For Trump, the meeting is a victory lap; for Machado, it is a job interview for the leadership of her country.