By Matija Šerić
For more than a year of hiding from the repressive pro-communist regime, María Corina Machado became a victim in the eyes of the Western world. Therefore, it is not particularly surprising that she received the Nobel Peace Prize on October 10. The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Venezuelan dissident the prize “for her tireless work promoting the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people and her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” The committee’s chair, Jørgen Watne Frydnes, added that the Venezuelan politician is “a key, unifying figure in a once deeply divided political opposition… in a brutal authoritarian state now experiencing a humanitarian and economic crisis.”
The Award Ceremony
On X (formerly Twitter), Machado triumphantly stated: “We are on the verge of victory, and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our main allies in achieving freedom and democracy.” She dedicated the prize to the “suffering people of Venezuela” and to President Donald Trump for “his steadfast support of her cause.” Trump, however, was offended for not receiving the Nobel himself, seeing Machado’s gesture as a form of satisfaction. The American leader has repeatedly claimed in speeches that he deserves the prestigious award for allegedly stopping eight wars.
Arguments in Favor of the Prize
Has Machado deserved the prize? The answer is not black and white—it is partially yes, and partially no. There is no question that she is a victim of political repression, as she was barred from running in presidential elections. She was forced into hiding because her life was threatened by the government and its extended arms, such as the colectivos—a radical left-wing paramilitary group supporting Maduro’s government and attacking the opposition violently. In reality, these are armed (narco) gangs that carry out the government’s dirty work—persecuting opposition groups and individuals. On several occasions, colectivos attacked vehicles and groups including Machado, but she always managed to escape unharmed. From the perspective of persecution and promoting democracy, one could say she deserved the Nobel.
Arguments Against
However, on the other hand, in terms of some of her political positions, she did not deserve the award. Machado has repeatedly publicly supported economic sanctions against Venezuela (i.e., her own country, which is ruled by a tyrant), which is not particularly controversial, but she has also supported foreign military intervention to overthrow Maduro’s regime. Someone calling for a foreign military invasion is highly questionable as a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. The long history of foreign military interventions in Latin America, which have usually resulted in worsening conditions, must be considered. Machado justifies her support for foreign intervention by citing the impossibility of Venezuelans overthrowing the government through elections or other means. Many analysts have therefore placed her among the most radical parts of the opposition and the extreme right, even though formally she belongs to the center-right and promotes liberal economic policies.
Protector of Neoliberalism That Devastated Venezuela
In domestic politics, she promotes liberal policies that helped overthrow Venezuela’s old political establishment. She advocates protecting wealthy social classes, privatizing state companies like the national oil corporation PDVSA, supporting the free market, reducing the state’s role in the economy, and calls herself the only “non-socialist” politician in the country. She also supports same-sex marriage, the legalization of medical cannabis, and abortion in certain cases, despite being Catholic. The economic policies she promotes (market neoliberal capitalism) contributed to rising poverty in Venezuela and the rest of Latin America, essentially paving the way for the rise of Chávez and other populist leaders.
Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize
Supporter of Trump’s Imperialism
Her foreign policy positions are controversial, as the 58-year-old politician openly supports Trump’s opposition to Maduro’s government. Machado backed Trump’s deployment of the U.S. Navy to the Caribbean. Additionally, it emerged that she coordinated with the Trump administration her first 100 hours in office following Maduro’s ouster. This has led some to accuse her of conspiring with the U.S. Many neutral observers accuse her of hypocrisy, as she promotes democracy while supporting Trump, who limits democracy. Trump has sought to strengthen his presidential power, including filling the Supreme Court and other courts with politically loyal judges. Meanwhile, his Republicans redraw electoral districts (e.g., through gerrymandering in Texas) and deploy the National Guard to cities (Chicago, Oregon, Portland…)—formally to fight crime and illegal immigration, but informally to strengthen federal power at the expense of Democratic-run cities and states.
Machado was the first to propose a theory she has loudly promoted over the past year: that the Venezuelan mafia organization Tren de Aragua is under the government’s control and initiated a narco-invasion of the U.S. This narrative has no concrete evidence. While the links between the gang and the Venezuelan government are tenuous, the story was enthusiastically embraced by Trump and his aides.
Uncritical Support for Israel in Gaza Destruction
Critics also reproach her open support for Israel in the war with Hamas and her close ties with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Machado has not expressed empathy for the enormous Palestinian casualties, which number around 70,000 dead and 170,000 injured. Although Venezuela and Israel severed diplomatic relations in 2009, Machado announced she would restore them once in power, even potentially moving Venezuela’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. As early as 2020, she signed a cooperation agreement with Likud, Netanyahu’s party, which many accuse of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
Much Ado About Nothing
Considering her domestic and especially foreign policy positions, it is highly debatable whether Machado deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. She certainly deserves recognition for a form of political persecution, but whether she deserves the Nobel for peace depends on the observer’s perspective.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision represents a gesture condemning Nicolás Maduro’s regime and supporting the opposition leader. Will this action topple Maduro? No. Maduro has not been removed from power despite 11 years of violent protests. As long as he retains the support of the military, security, intelligence, and other state structures, he will remain in power. One should not ignore oil revenues, which are still significant, nor support from Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran. Will that support collapse as Assad’s regime did late last year? Possibly. But currently, it will not, as Venezuela’s situation has slightly improved in recent years.
Awarding the Nobel to the Venezuelan dissident could lend some legitimacy to U.S. actions against Maduro’s Venezuela (sanctions, U.S. Navy seizures of Venezuelan ships in the Caribbean…), which Trump and other officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describe as a narco-state collaborating with drug cartels to export drugs and crime to the U.S. However, it is unlikely that the U.S. will carry out a military strike to impose democracy. It would be ironic if a Nobel Peace Prize motivated such an irrational decision—but with Trump, no scenario should be ruled out.
Potential Effect of the Nobel on Machado
Winning the Nobel Peace Prize will not bring Machado to power, but it could possibly help deradicalize her to some extent, as it has other laureates. She may turn to dialogue with the Chavista authorities—a path she has previously rejected. Diplomatic negotiations within Venezuela are the best way to change the regime and restore democracy. This is achievable in the long term, and Machado could play an important role in this process.
References:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maria-Corina-Machado
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/10/nx-s1-5567177/national-guard-map-chicago-california-oregon
https://www.unilad.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-nobel-peace-prize-response-130049-20251011
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/10/politics/trump-nobel-peace-prize-winner-machado
