CARACAS, May 23 - U.S. military forces carried out a drill over Venezuela's capital on Saturday, marking the first exercise on Venezuelan soil since a January operation in which U.S. troops attacked the capital and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. Venezuelan authorities say that January attack resulted in at least 100 fatalities.
The Venezuelan government characterized the most recent activity as an evacuation drill intended to prepare for possible medical emergencies or natural disasters. According to accounts of the exercise, two MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft touched down close to the U.S. embassy in Caracas. At the same time, vessels entered Venezuelan waters in the Caribbean Sea.
Venezuela’s information ministry did not immediately answer requests for comment on the drill. The U.S. embassy issued a statement saying it remained "committed to ensuring the implementation" of President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan, and singled out "particularly the stabilization of Venezuela." The embassy also said Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Americas, was present in Caracas during the activity.
"This keeps us on guard," said Evelyn Rebolledo, 57, an administrator who lives in Caracas. "A foreign country flying over the city itself, this is new to us and more so coming from the United States, given the current situation and all the turmoil in the country. It leaves us in a state of uncertainty."
The drill follows an earlier U.S. operation in January that Venezuelan authorities reported killed at least 100 people. The Venezuelan government, led by officials including Delcy Rodriguez - formerly vice president under Maduro - has enacted laws to open Venezuela’s oil reserves and mining resources to the United States, a development cited in context with current diplomatic and security activity.
Key points
- The U.S. conducted an aerial and maritime evacuation drill over Caracas involving two MV-22B Osprey aircraft and vessels in the Caribbean Sea.
- This was the first U.S. military exercise in Venezuela since a January operation that captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and which Venezuelan authorities say killed at least 100 people.
- The U.S. embassy affirmed its commitment to implementing President Trump’s three-phase plan with a focus on Venezuela's stabilization, and the commander of U.S. Southern Command was present in Caracas.
Risks and uncertainties
- Local sentiment of uncertainty: residents described increased unease after foreign aircraft flew over the capital, reflecting civilian concern about security in Caracas.
- Limited official response: Venezuela’s information ministry did not immediately comment, leaving questions about the government's public position on the drill.
- Potential political and economic implications: laws opening Venezuela’s oil and mining resources to the United States are part of the broader context in which these military and diplomatic activities are taking place.
Reporting on the scene noted the presence of U.S. military aircraft and maritime units near the capital and the expressed concerns of residents. The U.S. embassy emphasized the stabilization objective of its stated plan, and senior U.S. military leadership was reported to be in Caracas during the exercise.