María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader and recent Nobel laureate, has published a "freedom manifesto" saying Venezuela is "at the edge of a new era" and claiming plans for the first 100 hours and 100 days after Nicolás Maduro leaves power, but she has not shared concrete details. U.S. pressure has increased — including a naval buildup, a $50m reward for Maduro’s arrest and moves to label the "Cartel of the Suns" as a terrorist network — and President Trump has not ruled out military options. Observers warn that there is no clear sign of a split inside Maduro’s government and that any transition risks chaotic consequences or an equally repressive successor.
Machado Declares a 'New Era' for Venezuela as U.S. Floats Military Options — Plans Remain Vague
María Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader and recent Nobel laureate, has published a "freedom manifesto" saying Venezuela is "at the edge of a new era" and claiming plans for the first 100 hours and 100 days after Nicolás Maduro leaves power, but she has not shared concrete details. U.S. pressure has increased — including a naval buildup, a $50m reward for Maduro’s arrest and moves to label the "Cartel of the Suns" as a terrorist network — and President Trump has not ruled out military options. Observers warn that there is no clear sign of a split inside Maduro’s government and that any transition risks chaotic consequences or an equally repressive successor.
01:57 AM, 11/19/2025Politics
Machado declares a "new era" as U.S. pressure intensifies
María Corina Machado, a leading Venezuelan opposition figure and recent Nobel laureate, has published a "freedom manifesto" declaring the country is "at the edge of a new era." Speaking from hiding — where she has remained since her movement’s candidate was widely believed to have defeated Nicolás Maduro in last year’s election — Machado said she has a roadmap for the first 100 hours and 100 days after Maduro leaves power, though she has not released concrete details.
"This regime’s long and violent abuse of power is ending. A new Venezuela is emerging from the ashes... like a phoenix reborn — fierce, radiant, and unstoppable," Machado wrote in the manifesto. She vowed to hold the outgoing government accountable and to work for the return of an estimated 8 million Venezuelans who have fled the country.
Despite the rhetoric, Machado’s precise strategy for removing Maduro and stabilizing the country remains unclear. Past promises of rapid transitions have not materialized, and no obvious fissures have yet appeared within Maduro’s security apparatus.
U.S. pressure and military posturing
The prospect of regime change has been intensified by stepped-up U.S. pressure. Since August, Washington has ordered a major naval buildup off Venezuela’s northern coast and announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest — a sum that drew international attention for its size. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford recently arrived in the Caribbean, part of the broader show of force.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out military intervention. "I don't rule out anything," he said when asked about the possibility of ground troops, while also indicating he would be willing to speak with Maduro: "I probably would talk to him, yeah. I talk to everybody." Former national security adviser John Bolton described the buildup bluntly: "Trump has put the gun on the table. The question now is, is he going to use it against Maduro or not?"
U.S. officials have also signaled plans to designate the so-called "Cartel of the Suns" — the alleged network tied to Maduro that the administration accuses of involvement in drug trafficking — as a foreign terrorist organization, a move some observers view as creating a potential legal rationale for stronger action.
Risks, uncertainty and regional concern
Analysts and veteran observers warn of significant risks. Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst with the International Crisis Group, said many in the opposition had expected imminent airstrikes recently: "Lots of people — even high up in the opposition — were convinced that it was about to happen... but the bombs didn't fall." Many South American governments are apprehensive about chaotic fallout and potential bloodshed if Maduro's government were to collapse.
Even if Maduro is removed, critics say, the aftermath could be unstable: there may be no clear force able to secure the country immediately, and a successor could be another authoritarian figure. The combination of bold promises from Machado and opaque plans from external actors leaves Venezuela’s future uncertain.
Key facts: Machado promises a 100-hour/100-day plan but has not published specifics; the U.S. has increased military presence nearby, placed a $50 million reward on Maduro, and signaled tougher designations against alleged criminal networks; the risk of chaotic or violent aftermath remains high.