Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado has told the BBC she is grateful for what US President Donald Trump is doing around the world for peace.
Machado, Venezuela's opposition leader, was awarded the 2025 prize having long campaigned against the country's President Nicolás Maduro Moros, whose 12-year rule is viewed by many as illegitimate.
She told BBC Mundo that during a congratulatory phone call with Trump she expressed how grateful the Venezuelan people are for what he's doing, not only in the Americas, but around the world for peace, for freedom, for democracy.
Trump has publicly expressed his desire to win the prestigious award himself, frequently discussing the seven wars he claims to have ended.
Nominations for the award closed in January, just as Trump's second term as president began. A White House official remarked that the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.
Machado was very glad to converse with the US president and conveyed her appreciation for his support.
The 58-year-old has faced significant risks, often going into hiding due to threats against her life, and was recognized by the Nobel Committee as one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.
Nobel chairman Jørgen Watne Frydnes highlighted her struggle for a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.
In the context of major political repression in Venezuela, Machado's award is seen as a boost for her movement, igniting hope and unity amongst the Venezuelan people as they face the Maduro regime.
Machado has underscored the criminal nature of the Venezuelan regime, linked to illicit activities including drug trafficking and arms smuggling, urging the international community to cut off the financial flows that empower this governance structure.
Recent military actions by US forces against vessels engaging in narco-trafficking around Venezuelan waters have raised concerns, with allegations of international law violations and protests from neighboring countries, including Colombia.
Amidst accusations, Machado remains a prominent figure encouraging global attention towards Venezuela's political crisis, emphasizing the need for international solidarity in the face of tyranny.
