Marco Rubio denies US involvement in blocking María Corina Machado's return to Venezuela

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied reports suggesting that Washington has requested other nations to block the return of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado to her country.

Speaking during a press conference in Athens, Rubio dismissed media reports claiming the State Department instructed foreign governments to impede Machado’s entry into Venezuela. “We have never asked anyone to prevent anyone from entering any part of the world,” Rubio stated, questioning the factual basis of the allegations and noting that media reports do not always equate to truth.

Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been outside Venezuela for approximately one year. The controversy follows claims by the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) that Machado has faced obstacles attempting to re-enter the country. While US President Donald Trump has previously praised Machado, Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello has dismissed the reports of obstacles as a “show,” challenging her to return and face authorities.