Machado is considered a fugitive by the Venezuelan government, which accuses her of calling for military intervention against the country.

She has been unable to return to Venezuela since stealthily leaving the country in December to accept her Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.

“Yes, she tried to return but it was blocked,” a member of Machado’s team told AFP on Tuesday.

The opposition leader has made several failed attempts to return to her home country, including during the aftermath of the devastating June 24 double earthquakes.

The latest instance comes as Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez met with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

“Everything reported…about the blocked trips by Maria Corina Machado to Venezuela is confirmed,” the source added.

Venezuela suffered a wave of repression after toppled president Nicolas Maduro’s widely disputed claim to have won re-election in July 2024.

The crackdown on opposition has eased since the United States ousted Maduro in a lightning raid on the capital Caracas in January.

Colombian broadcaster NTN24 and Spanish newspaper ABC reported that Machado’s latest attempt to return to Venezuela was blocked by a combination of air travel restrictions, last-minute cancellations and mechanical failures.

Machado was not invited to US-backed transition talks which are underway between the interim Venezuelan government and selected parts of the opposition, although she has said she would not interfere in the process.

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