María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, expressed her belief that the leftist governments of Cuba and Nicaragua will collapse once the current regime in Venezuela, which she described as criminal, is dismantled. Her comments came after the U.S. military capture of Nicolás Maduro during a raid in Caracas, after which Delcy Rodríguez, formerly Maduro's vice president, has taken interim control and is negotiating oil agreements while addressing political prisoner releases under U.S. pressure.

In a telematic speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Machado emphasized the significant repercussions the situation in Venezuela is having across the region. She sees the dismantling of the Venezuelan regime as pivotal for achieving freedom from communism and dictatorship in the Americas. This statement reflects a broader hope among some Latin American leaders for a regional shift away from leftist governments and authoritarianism.

Machado's assertive statements capture a growing sentiment among opposition groups in Venezuela and some allies in Latin America that the downfall of the Venezuelan regime could trigger a chain reaction, leading to changes in Cuba and Nicaragua. Her remarks highlight the interconnectedness of political dynamics in Latin America, stressing that the liberation of one country could inspire change in others, ultimately leading to a more democratic and free region.