Washington DC - Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday said the return of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from exile had been made possible by Washington-backed talks on the country's democratic future.
In an X post shared on Sunday, Rubio claimed the Machado's return was the result of US intervention,
"The conditions allowing for the safe return of Ms. Machado to Venezuela is the direct result of the US supported reconciliation talks which has already seen hundreds of political prisoners freed and hundreds of political opposition figures return from exile," Rubio wrote.
"We expect all political actors to support these talks which represent the best chance Venezuela has had in thirty years to peacefully achieve not just a free and fair election but an enduring democracy."
Venezuela has been ruled by interim president Delcy Rodriguez under Washington DC's oversight since President Donald Trump ordered the forceful removal of longtime leader Nicolas Maduro in January.
The US last week praised the conclusion of the latest round of talks toward a democratic transition between Venezuela's interim government and opposition representatives.