Overview
- Speaking virtually at the America Business Forum in Miami, Machado called Trump’s approach “absolutely correct” and said, “Maduro started this war; Trump is finishing it.”
- U.S. pressure includes naval deployments with warships and thousands of troops, authorization of covert CIA operations, and reported evaluation of strikes on Venezuelan military targets.
- Accounts of U.S. maritime attacks diverge, with some reports citing at least 66 deaths across nearly 20 boats since September 1 and others describing three sunk vessels with 14 fatalities.
- Rights groups report a tightening crackdown inside Venezuela, including expanded arrests, deployment of colectivos, and a rise in political prisoners to 875 from 816 since late August.
- Machado outlined a rapid transition plan that frees all political prisoners in the first 100 hours, secures borders and key sites, restores fuel, food and medicines, and opens the economy to investment.