(MENAFN) The buildup of US military forces near Venezuela’s coastline might help facilitate regime change, according to opposition figure Maria Corina Machado.

The Nobel Peace Prize recipient indicated earlier this year that she would support US strikes in the nation if they assist in removing President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Washington has accused Maduro of maintaining connections with drug cartels, labeling him a “narcoterrorist.”

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump dispatched a naval fleet to the western Caribbean. Since September, US forces have targeted vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking near Venezuelan waters.

Reports from the media indicate that Washington is broadening its naval presence, with experts suggesting the mission could go beyond merely countering narcotics.

While Trump denied plans for direct strikes inside Venezuela, he reportedly reviewed a list of potential targets.

During an appearance on a show,’ Machado was asked if she supported US military intervention.

She responded, “I believe the escalation that’s taking place is the only way to force Maduro to understand that it’s time to go.”

Machado asserted that Maduro “illegally” assumed power in last year’s election, from which she was excluded.

She also claimed that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia was the rightful winner. Removing Maduro, she emphasized, would not constitute “regime change in the conventional way,” as he is “not the legitimate president” but rather “the head of a narcoterrorist structure.”

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