The brief detention of María Corina Machado on Jan. 9, 2025, could have easily ended in tragedy. Often called the “Iron Lady” of Venezuela’s opposition, Machado was seized by security forces while leading protests against Nicolás Maduro. Her swift release was a small victory, but her abduction underscored the dangers for Venezuela’s democratic leaders. It also marked a pivotal moment for U.S. policy toward Venezuela, showing how far the Biden administration has come in the past eight months — from naive diplomacy to a pragmatic, strategic and muscular approach.

In his final days in office, Biden has a rare opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in Latin America.

His administration’s early approach to Venezuela was rooted in wishful thinking. The White House believed partial sanctions relief and dialogue with Maduro could lead to democratic reforms. This approach assumed Maduro could be coaxed into holding free and fair elections. Predictably, Maduro responded by ramping up repression, attacking opposition figures like Machado, and either ignoring or only partially fulfilling agreements such as the Barbados Accord.

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