The Nobel Betrayal: How a Prize for a US-Backed Venezuelan Opponent Exposes the 'Peace' Farce

On Friday, October 10, 2025, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado, who is recognized as one of the main opposition figures against the government of Venezuela. This comes while she has been living in hiding in recent years due to some illegal activities and the resulting bans imposed on her.

Initially, it is necessary to mention that although Machado benefits from various support, especially from Western countries that refer to her as a symbol of resistance against the current Venezuelan government, she has been criticized by her detractors for some of her actions, as well as allegations of corruption and misuse of public resources in her political campaigns. Like other former leaders of the Venezuelan opposition, Machado continues to benefit from illegal and non-transparent support from the West. Analysts believe that many Western countries and their media establishments have played an undeniable role in magnifying this figure as a symbol of freedom-seeking in Venezuela. However, in reality, this has not been the case, and attempts have been made, similar to former Venezuelan opposition leaders like Juan Guaidó and Leopoldo López—who were called freedom-seeking figures despite numerous allegations and financial corruption—to present her as such within Western media frames. In contrast, these very false displays by the Western media front have actually led to greater distrust among the people and opposition of Venezuela.

Now, it seems that in a region with historical anti-colonial sentiments and sensitivity to United States influence, this selection as the Nobel Peace Prize winner may, while receiving widespread coverage in Latin American public opinion, provoke a wide range of reactions, from acceptance by liberal forces to criticism from nationalist currents. Many nationalist governments in Latin America consider the awarding of this prize a violation of human rights. In this regard, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the President of Cuba, called María Machado a person who abuses the current situation in her country. According to Iran Press, Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X: "It is very shameful that this prize has been awarded to Machado, a person who obstructs her country's internal politics. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has acted worse than before in politicizing and being unjust in allocating this prize."

It is worth noting that many political analysts and thinkers, referring to Machado's positions supporting US attacks on Venezuela, have criticized her lack of nationalist spirit and sense of patriotism, rejecting her reactions and considering them contrary to the nationalist and freedom-seeking spirit. However, recently, the Venezuelan government has arranged effective measures against threats, military attacks, and US interventionism, and countless citizens have demonstrated their comprehensive support for the current leader, Nicolás Maduro, through numerous gatherings.

It should also be noted that due to Venezuela's military actions in recent years, including the import of military equipment and hardware, as well as the transfer of military knowledge from China and Iran, the Venezuelan army has become a powerful military force in South America, and this powerful army alongside the government has gained significant potential capabilities to defend its borders in the region. At the same time, experience has shown that local groups can often turn into armed militant groups, standing alongside the government and the general public against Western arrogance and resisting. The continuation of this situation and the strengthening of national movements and anti-imperialist armed groups in other Latin American countries could serve as a warning bell against the United States, causing numerous transformations in these countries, which were previously considered America's backyard.

On the other hand, it can be acknowledged that another reason for the rejection of Machado's actions by the people and government of Venezuela, as well as many freedom-loving governments, is her lack of humanitarian stance regarding the decades-long crimes of the child-killing Zionist regime and her silence in the face of recent crimes in Gaza. Whereas Latin American nations inherently possess an anti-colonial spirit and are practically opposed to the crimes of the Zionist regime. However, in contrast, it is quite clear that Machado, in order to secure support from the West and especially from Donald Trump personally, has never taken a correct position on this matter. It is noteworthy that Machado has explicitly stated that to gain more power, she is willing to support closer relations with the Israeli regime and, in case of victory as President of Venezuela, would certainly move the country's embassy to Jerusalem for better relations with the Zionists.

Now, it must be noted that selecting an individual with anti-peace and anti-nationalist tendencies but close to Western objectives as the Nobel Peace Prize winner indicates the support of the awarders for those who pay no attention to the actions of the child-killing Israeli regime, manifests a clear contradiction with the initial goals of this prize, and practically demonstrates this institution's support for the Zionist regime.

Finally, it is necessary to mention that in recent years, the Nobel Peace Prize has not only failed to be a symbol of justice and peace in the world but is considered a symbol of unfairness and injustice in the Western world, applied only to secure the interests of these countries. This prize in the hands of someone like María Corina Machado will not only intensify tensions in Venezuela but will ultimately lead to further discredit of the international Nobel Committee.

Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written by Navid Daneshvar

https://www.reuters.com/world/nobel-peace-prize-winner-be-announced-year-overshadowed-by-trump-2025-10-10
https://iranpress.com/content/311242/cuba-slams-nobel-peace-prize-for-venezuela-machado-shameful
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/6/can-us-strikes-on-suspected-drug-boats-off-venezuela-be-legally-justified
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/09/24/755625/Venezuelan-govt-,-people-prepare-to-counter-external-threat-amid-tensions-with-US
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/life/nobel-peace-prize-winner-machado-voices-support-for-israel/3714406