CARACAS, Venezuela — American military personnel carried out a rapid response training drill at the United States Embassy in Venezuela’s capital on Saturday, more than four months following the removal of former President Nicolás Maduro from office.
A pair of Marine Corps Osprey aircraft — dual-purpose vehicles that function as both helicopters and traditional airplanes — circled above the recently reopened American diplomatic facility in Caracas. The aircraft touched down in the embassy’s parking area, with powerful air currents from their rotors causing nearby tree limbs to sway as military personnel emerged from the vehicles.
“Ensuring the military’s rapid response capability is a key component of mission readiness, both here in Venezuela and around the world,” the embassy said on Instagram.
Venezuelan officials had previously disclosed plans for the training exercise earlier in the week. Foreign Minister Yván Gil explained that American forces would perform the drill as preparation “in the event of medical emergencies or catastrophic emergencies.”
The military exercise occurred nearly two months following the formal reopening of the American embassy in Caracas. The diplomatic facility’s restoration came after the United States reestablished complete diplomatic ties with the South American nation following Maduro’s removal in early January.
Several Caracas residents assembled near the embassy grounds on Saturday to observe the military aircraft, while dozens of others congregated in different parts of the city to demonstrate against the exercise. Those protesting displayed a Venezuelan flag bearing the words “No to the Yankee drill.”
American military aircraft previously appeared over Caracas on January 3, when specialized forces descended from helicopters on ropes and apprehended Maduro along with his wife. The pair were transported to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking. Both have entered not guilty pleas.
