The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has emphasized the relevance of Venezuela as a "key ally" for global energy security, in a veiled reference to the recent oil agreement announced by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, with the Venezuelan government.
"Venezuela is ready to become the new energy and commercial engine of the Western Hemisphere. The reconstruction of our nation has already begun," Machado has stated, who argues that the "reconstruction" of the country will generate new opportunities in essential sectors such as health, infrastructure, energy, technology, and other strategic industries.
In her opinion, Venezuela is shaping up as a "key ally" for global energy security, especially regarding the supply of oil and gas. Furthermore, she has defended the need for robust "transatlantic cooperation," grounded in shared values, fair trade, and mutual security, while urging European companies to direct their investments towards Latin America.
Machado interprets that the "capture" of the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, during a U.S. military operation in January has opened a "positive process" in the country. However, she has stressed that the "definitive step" to consolidate this stage involves the full restoration of democracy through transparent elections held "as soon as possible."
The opposition leader has intervened through a video message at the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF 2026), a strategic dialogue forum that took place this Monday in Slovenia, where she participated in a panel dedicated to analyzing relations between Europe and Latin America.
At the end of her intervention, Machado reiterated her commitment to return to Venezuela to get directly involved in the political transition. "That is the Venezuela we are fighting for. That is why the transition ahead of us is so important, and that is why I will return very soon to Venezuela to help in this process," she has pointed out.
With this message, the opposition leader insists that a democratic transition in Venezuela would not only mean an improvement for the country's citizens but could also strengthen energy stability and open new commercial opportunities for other nations in America and for Europe.
The oil agreement revealed in the early hours of Saturday by the U.S. president, Donald Trump, grants Washington control of one fifth of Venezuela's crude oil reserves, in exchange for a strong injection of capital aimed at reactivating its deteriorated oil industry.