The leader of political opposition to Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro says Americans now have “a business opportunity of $1.7 trillion” in her country if the dictator is ousted from power, and she predicts communist regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua will soon fall once he’s gone.

“We will turn Venezuela from the criminal hub of the Americas into energy hub of the Americas,” Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel.

“I’m talking about a business opportunity of $1.7 trillion. This is unique. … This is a win-win partnership when we are all free.”

“I want to be very clear,” continued Machado, who has been in hiding for nine months. “Maduro is weaker than ever, totally rejected by 90% of the people, internationally isolated and now with fractures within the regime.”

Machado praised the leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump, and said: “Venezuela will be free. Venezuela will be a reliable partner of the U.S.”

“We will kick out Iranian forces and agents, the Hezbollah that have turned Venezuela into a base, an operational base of the Iranian regime. And we will build a partnership to create a security shield for the Americas for the stability of the region and also for the national security of the U.S.”

Regarding economic matters, Machado said: “Under Maduro, Venezeulans’ oil and energy has collapsed. These companies operating in Venezuela are forced to partner with a criminal structure, with a drug cartel. They are giving to Maduro and that means giving money for the drug cartels for the operations and enforcing the criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua that are operating all across the continent.”

“President Trump’s position is the right one. We need to move forward cut these sources going to the criminals. … Remember Maduro is the head of the Tren de Aragua.”

She predicted that once “Maduro’s out, believe me, the Cuban and Nicaraguan regime will follow, and for the first time in history, we will have a continent free of communism and dictatorship. This is historic.”

Machado described the harsh conditions living under Maduro’s dictatorship, noting, “Minimum wages in Venezuela are $1.5 dollars a month. Our children go to school only twice a week.

“No journalist is able to speak. Young people have been put in prison just for putting a post on X or Instagram or of they have my picture in their phones. So that is why people leave. They’re forced to leave to save their lives.”

“Once we have free Venezuela, we will not only dismantle all those criminal gangs … we will turn Venezuela into open markets and greatest opportunities for all.”

When asked if she and her cohorts were afraid, Machado replied, “Of course we are.”

“We have more than 900 political prisoners right now that have been tortured, women that have been sexually assaulted. It’s brutal but the fact is that we’re moving forward. And the fact that we have this unwavering support from President Trump makes things move ahead.”