U.S. and Venezuela Cooperate on Earthquake Aid After Maduro Capture

U.S. Marines have taken over air traffic control at Venezuela's main international airport and are assisting port operations in La Guaira after earthquakes struck the country last month. State Department disaster teams are distributing boxes of food, water, and supplies marked with the American flag.

The June 24 earthquakes killed at least 4,490 people and left nearly 18,000 homeless, according to Venezuelan authorities. The humanitarian response has required direct coordination between U.S. personnel and Venezuelan officials, including meetings with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello.

American diplomats reopened the U.S. embassy in Caracas in March after a seven-year closure. The embassy building had been unoccupied and showed damage from mold and heat. U.S. personnel have been working from a Marriott hotel two miles away while reestablishing operations.

The Trump administration captured former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife through a special operations mission. U.S. officials have continued working with some Venezuelan government figures previously under U.S. indictment or subject to bounty offers.

Venezuela's constitution sets a 180-day period for temporary presidential absence. That period ended earlier this month with interim President Delcy Rodríguez still in office. No date has been set for democratic elections. Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly and brother of the interim president, announced new negotiations with former opposition lawmakers scheduled to begin next month.

Delcy Rodríguez posted statements about a "new stage of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect" with the United States. A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. focus remains on humanitarian response and that adding political issues now would be counterproductive.