US Military Conducts First Exercise Over Caracas Since January Attack
CARACAS: On Saturday, the US military held a significant drill over the Venezuelan capital, marking its first military exercise in the country since the US troops’ January 3 assault that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Officials in Venezuela reported that this earlier attack led to the deaths of at least 100 individuals.
The recent drill was described by Venezuelan authorities as a precautionary evacuation exercise aimed at preparing for potential medical emergencies or disasters. Two MV-22B Osprey aircraft were involved, landing near the US embassy, while vessels moved into Venezuelan waters in the Caribbean.
There was no immediate comment from Venezuela’s information ministry regarding the exercise. However, the US embassy released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the initiatives laid out in President Donald Trump’s three-phase plan, with a strong emphasis on stabilizing Venezuela.
Francis Donovan, the commander of the US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the region, participated in the exercise and met with officials from the interim government in Caracas.
“This keeps us on guard,” expressed Evelyn Rebolledo, a 57-year-old administrator residing in the capital. “It’s unusual for a foreign nation to be flying over our city, especially the United States, given the current unrest in the country. It creates a feeling of uncertainty.”
The Trump administration has shown support for Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s former vice president, who has enacted laws to allow US investment in Venezuela’s extensive oil and mining resources.
Meanwhile, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado addressed hundreds of Venezuelan expatriates at a rally in Panama City on Saturday, vowing to continue her efforts in organizing the opposition movement. “The moment when I will return to our country is getting closer,” she declared. “What’s coming is big, and it’s going to be massive.”
Machado, a Nobel Prize laureate who has actively sought support from Trump, has rallied her supporters and international leaders since fleeing Venezuela last December after months in hiding. Her opposition group is widely viewed as the true victor of the 2024 election, which Maduro has been accused of manipulating.
