(NewsNation) — This year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner reportedly asked the Trump administration not to blow up her boat as she escaped Venezuela to receive her prize.
María Corina Machado won the prize for leading the opposition against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and risked her life to escape the country and travel to Norway.
Machado’s daughter accepted the prize on her behalf, as even the Nobel committee was unaware of her journey out of Venezuela.
Having been in hiding for a year, Machado’s efforts to leave her country included a disguise and the use of a group that helps Venezuelans escape the country to avoid military checkpoints before getting on a wooden fishing boat.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Machado coordinated with the White House as the boat crossed the Caribbean Sea to ensure the boat would not be subject to a military strike.
The U.S. has repeatedly launched strikes on boats in the region that the Trump administration says were smuggling drugs. The legality of the strikes has been questioned, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been under scrutiny for “double-tap” strikes that killed survivors.
After arriving in Oslo, Machado greeted supporters. She reportedly plans to rest for a few days before touring Europe to gather support for her cause and may visit the U.S.
It’s possible that she will not be allowed to return to her home country and will be exiled like previous opposition leaders. She could also face arrest and prosecution upon returning to Venezuela.