Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado expressed her gratitude to President Donald Trump for the actions taken against criminal organizations that operated in Venezuela, including the transnational gang known as Tren de Aragua.

Machado's statements came a day after Trump announced a coordinated military operation between Washington and Caracas that culminated in the death of Héctor Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” identified by US authorities as the top leader of the criminal organization.

The operation was carried out in a mining area in the state of Bolívar, in southeastern Venezuela, and was later confirmed by the authorities of the South American country.

Through a message spread on social networks, Machado maintained that the recent operation is part of a broader process of dismantling criminal structures that, according to him, operated for years with impunity within Venezuela and extended their influence to other Latin American nations.

The former deputy assured that these organizations caused serious consequences for the country in the social, economic, environmental and security spheres, while blaming the former Chavista power apparatus for having allowed their expansion.

Operations against criminal networks mark a new stage

Machado linked these events to the political changes that have occurred in Venezuela since the beginning of the year, after the departure of Nicolás Maduro from power. According to the opposition leader, the country has entered a new stage characterized by the strengthening of institutions and international cooperation in security matters.

In his message, he highlighted that in recent months events have been recorded that he considered unthinkable a short time ago, including actions directed against armed groups, organized crime networks and alleged international alliances that, in his opinion, contributed to the political and economic deterioration of Venezuela.

The opposition leader affirmed that the support of the Trump administration has been decisive in this process and pointed out that the progress observed represents a turning point in the country's recovery. For his part, Trump maintained that the operation against “Niño Guerrero” was carried out in coordination with Venezuelan allies and described the bilateral collaboration as effective and strategic to combat transnational threats.

Interim government highlights cooperation with Washington

The government headed by Delcy Rodríguez reported that the operation had intelligence exchange mechanisms, specialized technological support and coordination between organizations from both countries.

The authorities indicated that the cooperation is part of the reestablishment of bilateral relations between Caracas and Washington, resumed in March after several years of diplomatic distancing.

Machado also assured that Venezuela has begun to experience a gradual expansion of civil liberties. Among the changes he mentioned the release of political prisoners, greater participation of civil organizations and a progressive recovery of spaces for the media and citizens.

The leader concluded that, although she considers that there are still important challenges to consolidate the democratic transition, recent events represent significant advances on the path towards institutional stability and the fight against criminal structures that operated for years inside and outside Venezuela.