On November 6, 2025, the American Business Forum in Miami became the stage for a remarkable intersection of political drama, diplomatic recalibration, and shifting global alliances. Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado addressed the gathering virtually from an undisclosed location, her words resonating well beyond the forum’s walls. Machado’s impassioned speech, delivered under the shadow of persecution by Nicolas Maduro’s regime, captured the urgency and complexity of Venezuela’s ongoing struggle for democracy—and highlighted the evolving role of the United States in Latin America and the wider world.
Machado’s address was a rallying cry for freedom, not only for Venezuela but for the entire region. She declared, “The liberation of Venezuela will bring the liberation of Cuba and Nicaragua,” a sentiment that drew a standing ovation from the audience, as reported by Colombia One. Her remarks underscored the growing international support for Venezuela’s democratic movement, and she credited former U.S. President Donald Trump for reigniting hope in countries suffocated by authoritarianism. According to Machado, Trump’s “uncompromising stance” toward the Maduro regime was instrumental in weakening one of Latin America’s most entrenched dictatorships.
Trump’s approach to Venezuela marked a sharp departure from the diplomatic caution of previous U.S. administrations. During his presidency, Trump labeled Maduro a narcoterrorist, imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan state institutions, and directly targeted regime members involved in drug trafficking and corruption. These measures, Machado argued, helped dismantle criminal structures sustained by narcotics, arms smuggling, and illicit alliances. “The regime has survived only through its ties to drug trafficking and illicit trade,” she stated, praising Trump’s policies for exposing and disrupting these networks.
But Trump’s influence extended far beyond Venezuela. His administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign included freezing assets, blocking oil exports, and restricting access to global financial systems—not just punitive actions, but strategic moves designed to cut off the economic oxygen sustaining corrupt leaders like Maduro. In 2019, Trump’s administration was the first to recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s interim president, rallying more than 50 countries to follow suit. This diplomatic maneuver isolated Maduro and gave international legitimacy to the democratic opposition.
Behind the scenes, Trump coordinated intelligence-sharing with Latin American allies, especially Colombia and Brazil, to expose ties between the Venezuelan government and groups such as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). According to Colombia One, this cooperation led to the dismantling of transnational smuggling routes and disrupted the flow of illicit funds that propped up Maduro’s inner circle.
Trump’s regional doctrine revived the Monroe Doctrine’s core principle—defending the Western Hemisphere from external authoritarian influence—and extended tough policies to Cuba and Nicaragua as well. In Cuba, Trump reversed many Obama-era normalization measures, reinstating restrictions on trade and travel and sanctioning entities connected to the military and intelligence apparatus. In Nicaragua, his administration supported sanctions against Daniel Ortega’s regime and provided support to civil society organizations and independent media targeted by the government.
For Machado and many in the Venezuelan opposition, Trump’s presidency symbolized a rare moment of moral alignment with freedom movements across the region. “President Trump’s clarity and strength sent a message that tyranny has no future in the Americas,” she emphasized during her address, as reported by Colombia One. In her view, Trump’s interventionism redefined the U.S. role in Latin America—not as a distant observer, but as an active defender of democracy.
Yet, even as the U.S. projected strength in Latin America, its global standing was being challenged elsewhere. On October 30, 2025, President Trump announced the formation of a so-called “G2” world order with China as the other superpower, effectively sidelining traditional partners like India. According to The Print, Trump’s declaration of a bilateral world order with China marked a dramatic shift from confrontation to collaboration, leaving countries like India in a precarious diplomatic position.
This move represented a striking departure from the strategic partnership that had defined U.S.-India relations since the late 1990s. After India’s 1998 nuclear tests, a series of high-level talks paved the way for the 2005 India-U.S. nuclear accord, which was supposed to cement India’s role as a key U.S. ally and a bulwark against a rising China. But with the announcement of the G2, and despite a new 10-year Defence Framework Agreement signed on October 31, 2025, between U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the foundation of this partnership appeared to be eroding. High tariffs on Indian goods and U.S. pressure on India to reduce Russian crude purchases have further strained relations, leaving India feeling diplomatically isolated.
India’s sense of marginalization was starkly illustrated during the May 7-10, 2025 conflict with Pakistan. While several Western countries condemned a terrorist attack in Kashmir, global sympathy during the conflict seemed to tilt toward Pakistan. As The Print noted, both G2 nations—America and China—were perceived as landing on Pakistan’s side. India’s remaining alliances, such as with Israel and Afghanistan, offer little consolation in the face of the new global order. The article’s author argued that without strong national power and economic growth, India’s foreign policy would continue to suffer, especially as China’s influence rises and America appears to step back from world affairs.
The United States itself is not immune to diplomatic challenges. According to a 2025 study by Reputation Lab, the U.S. saw its global reputation plummet from 30th place in 2024 to 48th place in 2025 among 60 major countries. This decline in standing was further underscored by events at the United Nations. On October 29, 2025, an overwhelming majority of countries—165 out of 193 UN member states—voted in favor of ending the U.S. blockade of Cuba, a policy that has persisted in violation of international law for more than six decades. Only seven nations, including the U.S. and Israel, opposed the measure, while 12 abstained. Venezuela, despite expressing strong support for the resolution, was unable to vote due to U.S.-imposed sanctions that prevented it from paying its UN dues.
Despite significant diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. failed to sway most countries to support its position on Cuba. As Reuters reported, the State Department’s campaign to convince foreign governments to vote against the resolution ultimately drew support from just six nations. This was seen as a symbolic defeat, highlighting the United States’ increasing isolation on the world stage.
The U.S. embargo against Cuba, intensified under Trump’s renewed policies in 2025, has long been criticized for its humanitarian impact. The Associated Press noted that 80% of Cuba’s nearly 10 million residents have spent their entire lives under U.S. sanctions, which have only tightened in recent years. The stated goal, according to declassified government documents, has been to “weaken the economic life of Cuba” and bring about “hunger, desperation and overthrow of government.”
For Maria Corina Machado, the struggle for democracy in Venezuela is intimately connected to broader regional and global dynamics. She warned that Venezuela has become “a logistical and operational base for criminal networks and U.S. adversaries,” citing the presence of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah-linked operatives, and the issuance of over 10,000 Venezuelan passports to facilitate illicit movement. Machado also denounced Russia’s support in intelligence and weaponry, and China’s provision of over US$60 billion in exchange for access to Venezuela’s vast reserves of gold, minerals, and rare earths. “China has gained unprecedented control over our strategic assets,” she cautioned.
As the world watches the shifting tides of power, Machado’s vision remains clear: “Once Venezuela is free, Cuba and Nicaragua will follow. This is not just about one country, it’s about restoring liberty across an entire continent.” Her words encapsulate not only the hopes of a nation but the uncertainties and aspirations of a hemisphere caught between old alliances and new realities.
