Fareed Zakaria

A Conversation with Venezuelan Democratic Leader Maria Corina Machado | Global Conference 2026

Maria Corina Machado, Fareed Zakaria

Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado, having escaped Venezuela's repressive regime, advocates for a three-phase democratic transition that prioritizes electoral legitimacy, judicial restoration, and the privatization of the oil sector to address a $190 billion debt and 650% inflation. Her roadmap, supported by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines a strategic framework involving debt restructuring with the IMF and the recruitment of the diaspora to rebuild infrastructure, while ensuring accountability for crimes against humanity through the International Criminal Court. Despite significant security challenges and international opposition from state actors like Russia and Cuba, Machado posits that the military's potential support and the nation's critical mineral reserves could facilitate a "nearshoring" economic boom and position Venezuela as a leader in artificial intelligence.