Venezuelan Interior Minister and the country's second in command Diosdado Cabello suggested on Wednesday that opposition leader María Corina Machado may have left the country to travel to Norway ahead of the December 10 Nobel Peace Prize.
During his weekly television program Con el Mazo Dando, Cabello read a message from what he called a "cooperating patriot," claiming that media groups allegedly linked to Machado were preparing a "psychological war" campaign and had already begun operating in Europe.
"Someone promised that something was about to happen, and it will be fulfilled," Cabello said, adding that "soon the dark chapter of Venezuelan politics called María Corina Machado will come to an end." He then remarked, "We're going to miss her," suggesting the opposition figure had departed Venezuela.
🇻🇪 #ÚltimaHora 🇻🇪
— 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖 (@polianalitica) November 20, 2025
🔴 Diosdado Cabello informó que el gobierno venezolano tiene los vídeos y la fecha de cuando María Corina Machado salió del país.
🎥 El Mazo #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/88Mul1hRJb
Nobel laureate Machado is a longstanding critic of the Venezuelan government and has been in hiding since last year's presidential elections in which Maduro proclaimed himself the winner despite overwhelming accusations of electoral fraud.
Organizers of the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony told Norwegian broadcaster NRK last week that Machado confirmed her intention to travel to Oslo to receive the award. "She herself has made it clear that she will come," said committee chair Jørgen Watne Frydnes. He described the trip as dangerous because "the regime of Venezuela has said it wants to get rid of her," but added that the committee hopes she can arrive safely "and also return and continue the important work in Venezuela."
In an interview with Norwegian media in October, Machado said she could not leave her current location due to "direct threats" against her life and stated she could only travel once "Venezuela is free."
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Cabello's remarks come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela following increased U.S. naval deployments in the Caribbean. On Wednesday, he also addressed comments by U.S. president Donald Trump, who said he might speak with Nicolás Maduro "at some point."
Cabello welcomed what he called a group of "dialoguers" in Washington who were urging Trump to exhaust diplomatic options. "Dialogue is good when there are contradictions," he said, adding that talking "does not mean surrendering."
Responding to concerns about a potential U.S. military action, Cabello said that younger Venezuelans would not be used as "cannon fodder," asserting that "the more experienced" members of the ruling party would take the frontline. "We are not calling for war," he said, "but our people must be prepared and alert in every instance and in every way."
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