Machado's remarks come as the oil industry remains hesitant to invest in Venezuela after the U.S. ousted former President Nicolas Maduro.

The decadelong fall in violence is giving the country a boost as the U.S. tries to engineer an investment boom there.

The Venezuelan opposition leader laid out a detailed plan to oil executives gathered in Houston that would transform Venezuela's oil sector from a state-run enterprise to a 'fully private' industry.

Venezuela opposition leader Maria Corina Machado told Reuters on Tuesday that early interest ‌in Venezuela's oil sector is positive but she called for more transparency and contract security, including a new oil law,

Venezuela is sending a delegation to Washington as both countries move toward reopening diplomatic missions and resetting ties after years of rupture.

The change announced on March 19, 2026, moves the country’s ranking from Level 4 Do Not Travel to Level 3: Reconsider Travel.