Rubio says US told Venezuela to allow opposition leader Machado's return

Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that the Trump administration informed Venezuela's interim government weeks in advance that opposition leader María Corina Machado could return to the country without interference, CBS News Miami reported.

Rubio said the US communicated to Venezuelan authorities that Machado, who left Venezuela to accept the Nobel Peace Prize, should be allowed to return unperturbed. This disclosure came a day after Machado's return to Venezuela.

The Trump administration is pushing for a political transition in Venezuela. Rubio noted that the interim government is meeting agreed deadlines to overhaul Venezuela's Supreme Court and electoral council ahead of credible presidential elections.

Rubio dismissed concerns that elections could be indefinitely delayed, emphasizing the need to change the election infrastructure promptly. Machado has indicated she might run for president in the upcoming elections, though no date has been set yet.