1月3日，特朗普总统改写了我们的历史：将委内瑞拉挟持近三十年的犯罪集团头目尼古拉斯·马杜罗抓获并绳之以法。许多看似不可能的事情发生了。
On January 3, President Trump changed our history: Nicolás Maduro, head of the criminal structure that held Venezuela hostage for nearly three decades, was captured and brought to justice. What many thought impossible happened.
从那时起，我们两国便迎来了历史性机遇：瓦解贩毒集团，削弱古巴、俄罗斯、伊朗和中国的影响，建立能源伙伴关系，并让数百万人返乡。
Since then, our countries have had a historic opportunity: dismantle cartels, roll back Cuban, Russian, Iranian and Chinese influence, build an energy partnership, and bring millions home.
我们决心抓住这一机遇，因为深知，要使这一进程取得成功，必须有一支力量全力参与：委内瑞拉人民。
We are determined to seize it, knowing that for this process to succeed, one force must be fully engaged: the Venezuelan people.
委内瑞拉不是伊拉克，也不是阿富汗。我们是一个团结一致的社会，不存在根深蒂固的族裔或宗教分裂。我们曾经拥有拉丁美洲最稳定的民主和充满活力的经济，但两者都被一个罪孽深重的社会主义政权夺走。结果就是苦难、暴力、特伦德阿劳古拉组织、太阳卡特尔，以及西半球规模最大的移民危机。
Venezuela is not Iraq or Afghanistan. We are a cohesive society without deep ethnic or religious divisions. We once had Latin America’s most stable democracy and vibrant economy. We lost both to a criminal socialist regime. The result was misery, violence, Tren de Aragua, Cartel de los Soles and our hemisphere’s largest migration crisis.
那个政权至今仍掌握着大量权力。如果在它继续实际控制局面时放松压力，它就会故态复萌。
That regime still retains much power. If pressure eases while it holds de facto control, it will return to its old methods.
委内瑞拉人希望我们的孩子回家，希望拥有光明的未来，以及建立在共同价值观基础上的持久美委联盟。只有找到一条通往民主转型的明确道路，海外的数百万人才会回国。只有民选政府才能带来这种信心。
Venezuelans want our children home, a bright future and a lasting US alliance based on common values. Millions abroad will return only with a clear path toward democratic transition. Only an elected government can provide that confidence.
这正是我们2024年7月28日投票所选择的前景。马杜罗审查媒体、禁止我参选，并囚禁了我的团队。但委内瑞拉人组织起来、投下选票、核查结果，战胜了欺诈与压迫。我们以压倒性优势赢得了胜利。
That is what we voted for on July 28, 2024. Maduro censored the media, barred me from running and imprisoned my team. But Venezuelans organized, voted, verified the results and overcame fraud and repression. We won overwhelmingly.
马杜罗监禁了2000多人，却无法掩盖真相。7月28日掀起了委内瑞拉历史上规模最大的公民运动，并证明委内瑞拉人民是民主稳定的保障，也是美国在本地区最理想的伙伴。
Maduro imprisoned more than 2,000 people but could not hide the truth. July 28 became our largest civic movement ever and proved Venezuelans are a guarantee of democratic stability and America’s best partner in the region.
我们是一个和平的西方国家，坚定致力于自由和民主。这里虽遭社会主义摧残，却拥有超过3000亿桶石油、庞大的天然气储量、水电潜力和关键矿产……而这一切距离佛罗里达州不过三小时路程。
We are a peaceful Western nation, committed to freedom and democracy, ravaged by socialism yet endowed with over 300 billion barrels of oil, vast gas reserves, hydroelectric potential and critical minerals … all just three hours from Florida.
一个世纪以来，美国一直是我们的天然合作伙伴。美国企业教会我们开采石油，也把我们的国民运动带到了这里：棒球。
The United States has been our natural partner for a century. American companies taught us to produce oil and brought us our national sport: baseball.
经历了27年的社会主义破坏后，我们希望美国重新成为我们最重要的贸易伙伴，也希望委内瑞拉成为美国可靠的能源来源。
After 27 years of socialist destruction, we want the United States back as our leading trading partner, and we want Venezuela to be a reliable American energy source.
只要投入约2000亿美元，委内瑞拉每天就能生产远超500万桶石油。石油公司几乎可以在任何政府统治下开展钻探，但如此规模的资本投入需要20年至30年的长期合同，以约束未来的政府。维持这些投资，需要可预期的法律框架、合同执行力和有竞争力的财政制度——而这一切只有建立在西方法治原则之上才有可能实现。
Venezuela can produce well over 5 million barrels a day with some $200 billion in investment. Oil companies may drill under almost any government, but capital on that scale requires 20- to 30-year contracts that bind future governments. Sustaining that investment requires a predictable legal framework, contract enforcement and a competitive fiscal regime — all possible only under a Western rule of law.
挑战不仅在于资源。重建电网、港口、供水系统和数字基础设施，以及制度体系、领土控制、司法、教育和医疗体系，同样需要这种长期确定性。我们已经制定好了方案，组建好了团队。
The challenge goes beyond resources. The same long-term certainty is needed to rebuild the power grid, ports, water systems and digital infrastructure, as well as institutions, territorial control, justice, education and health. We have the plans and teams.
强有力的制度必须为投资者提供长期保障，而且这种保障应根植于法治，而非外部压力。它们还需要防止查韦斯主义重回其过去的老路。
Strong institutions must give investors long-term safeguards, grounded in the rule of law rather than external pressure. They also prevent Chavismo from returning to its old methods.
一个通过合法选举产生的政府能够提供这种确定性，同时无需让美国纳税人花费一美元。私人资本可以透明地资助我们的复苏。
A legitimately elected government can provide that certainty without costing American taxpayers a dollar. Private capital can finance our recovery transparently.
我们希望这一切都建立在自由和民主之上，让两国共同受益。作为数百万民众亲手创建的公民运动的领导人，我作出这一承诺：委内瑞拉将信守合同，保护私有财产，并与美国建立持久的战略联盟。
We want all of this in freedom and democracy, with both countries winning. As leader of the civic movement millions made their own, I’ve made this commitment: Venezuela will honor contracts, protect private property and build a lasting strategic alliance with the United States.
这也是我必须尽快回国的原因。我的职责是陪伴我国人民，以和平方式化解日益加剧的社会紧张局势。我必须回去，加强公民组织建设，巩固公民社会网络，并推动民间社会与军方达成全国性协议。我将回国并走遍全国，为委内瑞拉重建制度、经济和民主做准备，使其成为美国在本半球最强大的合作伙伴。
That is also why my return is urgent. My duty is to accompany our people and channel growing social tensions peacefully. I must be there, deepening citizen organization, strengthening our civic network and forging a national agreement among civilians and the military. I will return and travel the country, preparing Venezuela to rebuild its institutions, economy and democracy, and become America’s strongest partner in the hemisphere.
因此，下一步战略行动是在未来一年内确定总统选举日期，并制定确保选举自由、公平所需改革的路线图。确定明确日期，将为委内瑞拉人提供组织行动和参与选举的时间安排，使社会参与马杜罗被捕所开启的进程。对于那些担心选举可能带来不稳定的人，事实恰恰相反：选举将团结全国，并带来确定性。上一次选举表明，数百万民众能够而且愿意为民主变革进行和平组织。
That is why the next strategic step is to set a date for presidential elections within the next year, with a roadmap for the reforms needed to make them free and fair. A firm date will give Venezuelans a horizon for organizing and participating, bringing society into the process begun by Maduro’s arrest. To those who fear elections could bring instability, the opposite is true: They will unite the country and bring certainty. The previous election showed millions can and will organize peacefully for democratic change.
持久稳定建立在与获得委内瑞拉人民支持的合法政府所达成的承诺之上。安全合作需要合法指挥体系。我们的愿景是把政府协议转化为超越政府任期、能够长期延续的国家政策。
Lasting stability rests on commitments made with a legitimate government backed by Venezuelans. Security cooperation requires legitimate command. Our vision is to turn government agreements into state policy that can outlast governments.
归根结底，稳定取决于我国人民的参与。这不能等到过渡结束后再开始；它是确保过渡取得成功的最有力保障。
Ultimately, stability depends on our people’s participation. That cannot wait until the transition ends; it is the strongest guarantee of its success.
国务卿马可·鲁比奥已经表示，委内瑞拉必须举行自由选举。我们对此表示同意。委内瑞拉人民需要知道具体时间。
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated Venezuela must hold free elections. We agree. Venezuelans need to know when.
1月3日，特朗普总统完成了许多人认为不可能的事情。现在，我们可以将其转化为持久的战略胜利：建设一个稳定、民主、繁荣的委内瑞拉，与美国结盟，向美国投资者开放，并为半球安全作出贡献。
On January 3, President Trump did what many thought impossible. Now we can turn that into a lasting strategic victory: a stable, democratic, prosperous Venezuela allied with the United States, open to American investment and contributing to hemispheric security.
委内瑞拉人民已准备好采取一切必要行动。我们已经证明，我们能够组织起来、投下选票，并以和平方式捍卫自己的意志。通过设定选举时间表，将这股力量带入这一进程，不会使既有成果面临风险，反而将巩固这些成果。
Venezuelans are ready to do what it takes. We have shown we can organize, vote and peacefully defend our will. Bringing that force into this process through an election timetable will not put the gains at risk. It will secure them.
1月3日，这扇门打开了。委内瑞拉人已准备好穿过它，永不回头。
January 3 opened the door. Venezuelans are ready to walk through it and never turn back.
玛丽亚·科里纳·马查多因致力于恢复委内瑞拉的自由、击败尼科尔·马杜罗的威权统治，荣获2025年诺贝尔和平奖。
María Corina Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight to restore freedom in Venezuela and defeat the authoritarian regime of Nicolás Maduro.