(Washington) Venezuelan opponent and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado arrived Thursday at the White House for a lunch with Donald Trump, who removed her from his strategy in Venezuela and who cannot digest not having been distinguished last year by the Nobel committee.
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She was spotted shortly after 12 p.m. local time (Eastern time) by an AFP photographer.
His lunch with the American president must take place away from the press, according to the latter’s official agenda.
His visit to the White House comes the day after a “long conversation” of the American president with the interim president of the Latin American country, Delcy Rodríguez, confirming the American intention to deal until further notice with the leadership team remaining in place in Caracas after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by American special forces.
He had nothing but praise for the former vice-president of the deposed leader, a “terrific person”, assuring during an exchange with the press that he “worked very well” with the Venezuelan authorities.
Delcy Rodríguez spoke of a “productive and courteous” interview.
All this does not prevent Washington from maintaining pressure on Caracas: American forces seized a new oil tanker under sanctions in the Caribbean on Thursday morning, the sixth in a few weeks.
Oil sales
The United States has also finalized a sale of Venezuelan oil, the first since taking control of the sector, for an amount of 500 million dollars.
If he has not yet shown any desire to support the Venezuelan opposition or organize elections in this country, Donald Trump assured the Fox News channel that he was “impatient” to see María Corina Machado.
Asked during this interview about the possibility that the Venezuelan opponent would give him her Nobel Prize, he replied: “I heard that she wanted to do that. It would be a great honor.”
The Nobel Institute has stated that it is absolutely impossible to transfer, share or revoke a Nobel Prize once it has been awarded.
If this applies to the distinction itself in its immaterial dimension, the winner(s) of which cannot be modified a posteriori, María Corina Machado can in theory dispose of the diploma and medal she received as she wishes.
“Spectacular” partnership
Shortly after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, now detained in the United States, Donald Trump estimated that Mme Machado, who left Venezuela clandestinely in December to receive the Nobel, was not qualified to lead the country.
The American president intends to dictate any decision taken by Caracas, particularly in oil matters, until further notice.
“This partnership between the United States and Venezuela will be spectacular for everyone,” Donald Trump assured Wednesday on his Truth Social network.
To achieve his goals, however, he will have to convince oil multinationals, some of whom are cautious, even frankly reluctant, to invest massively in infrastructure in Venezuela.
The White House also assures that American pressure was decisive for the releases of prisoners decided by Caracas, even if Mme Rodriguez points out that this was a process started by deposed President Nicolás Maduro before his capture.
Nuanced since the beginning of the process the much higher official figures, the NGO Foro Penal has recorded 72 releases, while relatives and NGOs speak of releases in dribs and drabs.
NGOs believe that more than 800 political prisoners are languishing in the country’s jails.
