Machado Accuses Venezuelan Government of Closing Airspace to Block Her Return

Opposition leader María Corina Machado has accused the Venezuelan government of closing the country's commercial airspace to prevent her return after devastating earthquakes killed over 1,700 people. Machado, who is in exile in Panama, says she wanted to travel to Venezuela to help victims but was blocked.

The accusation

In a statement on social media, Machado said the government "closed the commercial airspace of Venezuela" to impede her entry and that of thousands of compatriots. She claimed the measure was later reversed, but threats were made against those facilitating her return. Source: Infobae

The context

Venezuela was struck by two earthquakes on June 24, magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, leaving 1,719 dead and over 5,000 injured, along with severe infrastructure damage. Source: El Caribe While Machado asserts the closure was politically motivated, Emol notes that Maiquetía International Airport was closed due to quake damage and later partially reopened for humanitarian flights, with other airports accepting commercial traffic. Source: Emol

US reaction

According to The New York Times, citing anonymous Trump administration officials, Machado has requested US help for her return, but some in the administration consider the request "inopportune." Source: Infobae This suggests Washington may not fully support her immediate return.