(Washington) Donald Trump receives on Thursday the Venezuelan opponent María Corina Machado, whom he has so far excluded from his strategy in Venezuela, but from whom he seems to hope for a gesture regarding the Nobel Peace Prize she received last year.
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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 his firm 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, “in a framework of mutual respect”.
If he shows no inclination for the moment to support the Venezuelan opposition or to 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, a distinction that he believes he deserves more than anyone, Donald Trump 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, 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 and even frankly reluctant, to invest massively in infrastructure in Venezuela.
In the meantime, Washington is maintaining the pressure: American forces seized a new oil tanker under sanctions in the Caribbean on Thursday morning, the sixth in a few weeks.
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.
