Venezuela is gearing up for the launch of US-backed political transition talks on Saturday, but the absence of Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition figure Maria Corina Machado has left her base skeptical. Interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, who formerly served as Maduro's vice president, has been governing under Washington's watchful eye since then. Gonzalez Urrutia's exiled political ally Machado has promised to return to Venezuela but was not invited to the upcoming talks. The US president, who views Venezuela as an American dominion, has repeatedly expressed satisfaction with Rodriguez. National Assembly chief Jorge Rodriguez -- the interim leader's brother -- will head the talks alongside opposition figure Dinorah Figuera.