Venezuelan Opposition Leader María Corina Machado Makes First Public Appearance After Months in Hiding

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado emerged from hiding on Thursday, making her first public appearance in 11 months at a hotel in Oslo, Norway, where supporters greeted her with chants of “Freedom!” The Nobel Peace Prize laureate had been in hiding since January 9, when she was briefly detained after joining protests in Caracas against President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

Stepping onto the hotel balcony, Machado waved to the crowd before joining them in singing Venezuela’s national anthem. She later descended to interact with supporters, who showered her with affection and chants of “President! President!” while taking photos with the opposition figure.

“I want you all back in Venezuela,” Machado told the gathered crowd, many of whom are likely part of the massive Venezuelan diaspora that has fled the country’s ongoing political and economic crisis.

The appearance came just days after Machado’s daughter, Ana Corina Sosa, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf during the official ceremony. In her acceptance speech, Sosa emphasized her mother’s commitment to democracy, saying that she “wants to live in a free Venezuela” and “will never give up on that purpose.”

“That is why we all know, and I know, that she will be back in Venezuela very soon,” Sosa added.

In an audio recording published on the Nobel website, Machado explained that many people had “risked their lives” to help her reach Norway, though she was unable to arrive in time for the award ceremony. “I am very grateful to them, and this is a measure of what this recognition means to the Venezuelan people,” she said.

Machado’s reemergence occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between Venezuela and the United States. Just one day before her appearance, President Donald Trump announced the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, further straining relations with Maduro’s government, which is already subject to extensive U.S. sanctions targeting the country’s petroleum sector.

The U.S. has intensified military actions near Venezuelan territory in recent months. Since September, American forces have reportedly conducted at least 22 strikes against alleged narcotraffickers in the region, resulting in 87 casualties. President Trump has publicly stated that Maduro’s “days are numbered” and has not ruled out the possibility of a ground operation in Venezuela.

Steve Yates, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, suggested on Fox News that Machado’s international visit could serve as an opportunity to garner “greater international support” for her cause. He added that Trump might benefit from having more European allies support a “non-invasion” approach to the Venezuelan crisis.

Machado has been outspoken in her support for the Trump administration’s actions against Maduro’s regime and Venezuela’s narcotrafficking networks. After being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October, she dedicated the honor to both Trump and the “suffering people of Venezuela.”

In a recent interview, Machado expressed optimism that Venezuela stands at the “threshold of freedom,” highlighting her new “freedom manifesto” that outlines a vision for Venezuela’s future without the Maduro regime.

The political standoff in Venezuela has created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with nearly 7.7 million Venezuelans having fled the country since 2014 according to UN figures. The country continues to struggle with hyperinflation, food shortages, and political repression under Maduro’s leadership, which many international observers have labeled authoritarian.