New York, Oct 10 (NationPress) Although US President Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize this year, the recipient, an ally from Venezuela, paid tribute to him on Friday.

Maria Corina Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition, expressed on X, “I dedicate this prize to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause”!

Trump campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize by highlighting his efforts to resolve global conflicts, including the contentious India-Pakistan dispute, and received nominations from multiple nations.

However, a significant hurdle was that the nominations for Norway’s Parliament closed on January 31, long before he engaged in diplomatic efforts.

His notable achievement thus far, the initial peace agreement regarding Gaza, occurred this month after the five-member prize committee from Norway's Parliament had already selected the winner.

Nonetheless, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung criticized the panel on X, stating, “The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

Trump seemed to take the news well, sharing on Truth Social Machado’s post that expressed, “We are on the threshold of victory and today more than ever we count on President Trump, the citizens of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our main allies to achieve Freedom and democracy.”

For the committee that selected her, it was a calculated choice, aligning with a leader who shares international ties with Trump while simultaneously sending a message against authoritarianism.

The announcement stated, “She is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her relentless advocacy for democratic rights,” adding, “In a time when democracy is under siege, it is vital to uphold this shared foundation.”

Both supporters and detractors of Trump can find validation in this selection.

The prize committee also steered clear of choosing international figures or organizations that might conflict with Trump’s stance.

They reported having received 338 nominations, 244 of which were individuals and 94 organizations.

Machado, the leader of the Vente Venezuela Party, has been a central figure in the opposition against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is accused of undermining democracy and is currently evading the regime.

Having been barred from participating in last year’s election, she supported the opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, who claimed to have won the election – a claim endorsed by certain international observers and both the Trump and Biden administrations.

Trump escalated the campaign against Maduro, incorporating a military dimension into the US opposition that has continued under Biden.

Trump has dispatched Navy vessels toward Venezuela and initiated an air campaign, targeting boats that his administration alleges are transporting drugs to the US.

Machado endorsed Trump’s initiatives, stating in an interview that it protects both American and Venezuelan lives.

“Maduro is the leader of a narco-terrorist network,” she declared, asserting that Trump’s measures would save “not only Venezuelan lives but also the lives of the American populace.”

US officials have accused Maduro of being involved in narco-terrorism, and he faces charges in a New York federal court related to drug trafficking.

As a conservative, Machado has challenged both the political and economic approaches of Maduro, a self-proclaimed socialist, under whose governance the nation has endured severe hardship.

The Nobel Committee remarked, “Venezuela has transformed from a relatively democratic and prosperous nation into a harsh, authoritarian regime currently grappling with a humanitarian and economic crisis. The majority of Venezuelans live in profound poverty, while the elite continue to amass wealth.”