María Corina Machado Speaks Out After Detention of Nicolás Maduro

The opposition figure in Venezuela, María Corina Machado, released a strongly worded letter directly addressing Venezuelans upon the seizure of Nicolás Maduro and his spouse in a U.S.-led operation late Saturday.

Having largely stayed out of sight last year, Machado proclaimed that Maduro would inevitably be held accountable by the international judicial system for severe violations inflicted on both Venezuelans and people from myriad other countries.

Her letter emphatically declared, "Now is the moment for liberation!" Machado, who later garnered the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025 for her efforts, emphasized in her writing.

It was uncertain if Machado, who just last month had been re-evaluating her location, remained within Venezuelan borders at this time. Recently, in mid-December, she expressed unequivocal support for former U.S. President Trump's intensified military approaches towards Maduro's government, viewing further escalation as necessary to compel Maduro to concede.

Read María Corina Machado's Statement to the People of Venezuela

Complete Translation Provided by CBS News

Broader Reactions to Maduro's Apprehension

The capture of Nicolás Maduro evoked strong responses from political figures in New York, drawing parallels to historical U.S. operations such as the arrest of Panama's former leader, Manuel Noriega, thirty-five years earlier.

As communities across Chicago prepare demonstrations in opposition to U.S. military actions in Venezuela, the ripple effects are felt far and wide.