Machado Thanks Trump for Actions Against Crime; U.S. Kills Tren de Aragua Leader

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado expressed gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump for his administration's efforts against armed groups, criminal organizations, and mafias operating in the region. Her comments came in the wake of a significant joint operation that resulted in the death of Héctor Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan-originating Tren de Aragua gang, which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization.

On Friday, Trump announced that the U.S. Southern Command had executed a "swift and lethal attack" to eliminate Niño Guerrero, as the Tren de Aragua leader was known. The operation took place in a mining region in southeastern Venezuela and was subsequently confirmed by Caracas.

Machado's acknowledgment highlights a rare instance of cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuelan governments, albeit focused on combating transnational crime. The Trump administration has previously taken a strong stance against the Maduro regime, imposing sanctions and supporting opposition efforts. However, this operation signals a pragmatic alignment on security matters.

The death of Guerrero is considered a major blow to the Tren de Aragua, an organization implicated in various criminal activities across Latin America, including extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking. The coordinated effort between U.S. and Venezuelan forces underscores a shared commitment to dismantling such powerful criminal networks.