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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Elections & Politics

U.S. Lawmaker: U.S. Goal is Venezuela's 'Liberation,' Not Occupation

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar stated that the Trump administration aims for Venezuela's "liberation," not occupation, paving the way for elections next year.
  • Salazar supports a three-phase plan for Venezuela's transition, emphasizing free and transparent elections with U.S. assistance.
  • She believes the Venezuelan people desire freedom and democracy, and the U.S. will continue to pressure the regime to release all political prisoners.

U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar asserted that the Trump administration's objective in Venezuela is "liberation," not occupation, with the ultimate goal of facilitating free and transparent elections in the country next year. Salazar, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, believes that the path to democracy in Venezuela requires a structured approach.

Next year, there must be free and transparent elections in Venezuela, with the help of the United States government, so that Venezuelans can decide the political future of their country.

— María Elvira SalazarStating the U.S. goal for Venezuelan elections.

"Next year, there must be free and transparent elections in Venezuela, with the help of the United States government, so that Venezuelans can decide the political future of their country," Salazar stated. She emphasized that the U.S. is not involved in occupying nations but rather in supporting their freedom. This stance counters any suggestions of U.S. interventionism, framing the policy as one of empowerment.

Salazar views Secretary of State Marco Rubio's proposed three-phase plan, stabilization, recovery, and transition, as the ideal strategy for Venezuela's democratic journey. She dismissed notions that the Trump administration is pursuing "occupation" tactics. "The United States is not in the business of occupation; it is in the business of liberation," she declared.

The United States is not in the business of occupation; it is in the business of liberation.

— María Elvira SalazarClarifying the U.S. approach towards Venezuela.

Regarding recent political maneuvers by Venezuela's interim government, including the partial release of detained individuals, Salazar indicated that the U.S. will maintain pressure for the complete release of all political prisoners. She reiterated her conviction that the Venezuelan people have decisively chosen freedom and democracy, signaling an end to the "chavismo" era. "The regime may try to put on a mask, but the Venezuelan people have already decided they want freedom and democracy," she underscored.

The regime may try to put on a mask, but the Venezuelan people have already decided they want freedom and democracy.

— María Elvira SalazarExpressing confidence in the Venezuelan people's desire for change.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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