Venezuela's Path to Democracy and Oil | US News

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado delivered a bold message at the Bled Strategic Forum: free and fair elections are Venezuela’s urgent first step toward stability and economic revival. While she didn’t address President Trump’s historic U.S.-Venezuela oil deal — which grants American firms control over key oil reserves — she made clear that democracy must come before any rebuilding. Machado envisions a future where restored democratic governance unlocks massive global investment to rebuild healthcare, infrastructure, and energy systems, positioning Venezuela as a vital energy partner for the West and Europe. Meanwhile, the U.S. deal, touted as the largest in history, aims to jumpstart Venezuela’s oil sector, lower gas prices, and boost U.S. reserves — but its legal basis and feasibility remain hotly debated, sparking criticism from both sides of the aisle who fear it prioritizes oil over democracy and ignores the need for real elections. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f73cc727c0ff2a25