From the letter to Mauricio Macri in 2015, through the promise to move the Venezuelan embassy to Jerusalem and her accusations against the Maduro–Iran alliance, to Netanyahu’s congratulatory message after the Nobel Peace Prize: a chronology of over ten years of political gestures and connections
By: La Tabla/Data Journalism Platform 17 OCT 2025
The relationship between Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado and the State of Israel, particularly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has evolved significantly over more than a decade. From her initial statements in international forums to officially confirmed direct contacts, the ties have been characterized by political gestures, letter exchanges, and media statements.
In 2012 and 2013, Machado began to identify Iran as a “common enemy” of Israel and Venezuela in interviews and international forums, linking Nicolás Maduro’s government with Tehran and organizations such as Hezbollah. These claims were picked up by the Venezuelan media and marked the beginning of a narrative aimed at aligning the Venezuelan opposition with Israeli security priorities.
In 2015, she sent a public letter to then-Argentinian President Mauricio Macri, emphasizing the need for a hemispheric alliance against the so-called “Axis of Evil” (Iran–Venezuela). In that text, she explicitly mentioned Netanyahu as a strategic partner in the region, creating a rhetorical bridge between Caracas, Buenos Aires, and Jerusalem. The letter was circulated in Argentine and Venezuelan media and became a crucial document for understanding Machado’s political triangulation at that time.
Between 2017 and 2019, Machado reiterated in interviews and on her Twitter/X account that, if elected, she would move the Venezuelan embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, following the lead of governments like those of Donald Trump in the United States and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. These declarations were reported by international press, strengthening her image as a Latin American figure openly aligned with Israel. Vis a Vis, 2025
In 2023, amid the military escalation in Gaza, Machado issued statements and gave interviews supporting Israel’s defense against Hamas while denouncing the alliance between Maduro’s government, Iran, and Hezbollah. These positions were disseminated through Latin American media and her own social networks, solidifying a discourse of strategic affinity with Tel Aviv.
Finally, on October 17, 2025, after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Machado had a phone conversation with Netanyahu. According to the Israeli Prime Minister’s office, she expressed her condolences for the Hamas victims, praised Israel’s “resolute actions” in the war, and celebrated the agreement that allowed the release of hostages in Gaza. Netanyahu congratulated her on the Nobel Prize and highlighted her leadership in Venezuela. This contact was confirmed in official statements and reported by international media such as MSN, La Nación, and TRT Español.
This timeline shows that the Machado-Netanyahu relationship has been more symbolic and discursive rather than contractual, yet it has maintained continuity over time. From denouncing the “Axis of Evil” to the 2025 phone call, the leader has sought to project alignment with Israel and Netanyahu, although at times her allies have had to deny rumors about supposed formal agreements that never materialized.