US Announces Total Compliance from Venezuela in Earthquake Relief Effort
The Trump administration has secured full cooperation from Venezuelan interim authorities in humanitarian relief efforts following twin earthquakes that devastated the country’s northern coast last week, the State Department announced Tuesday. The diplomatic breakthrough marks a significant shift in US-Venezuela relations just months after US special forces captured former dictator Nicolás Maduro.
“We have seen total compliance from the interim authorities in Venezuela as a result of the unprecedented response by the United States to these deadly earthquakes,” a State Department official told Fox News Digital. “Every request we have made has been immediately granted and in turn, we have seen an incredible outpouring of support from the Venezuelan people towards Americans on the ground.”
The Disaster
On June 24, twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck northern Venezuela, centered near the coastal state of La Guaira. As of June 30, the official death toll had reached at least 1,943, with 10,571 injured and an estimated 50,000 or more missing, according to independent monitors. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla Del Tindaro, warned that at least 2,500 structures were affected, the majority of which collapsed completely.
US Humanitarian Response
The United States has mobilized a massive relief operation. Initially pledging $150 million, the administration increased the aid package to $300 million, directing funds through organizations including Samaritan’s Purse, Catholic Relief Services, the International Organization for Migration, the World Food Programme, and the Red Cross. The US military has deployed the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) to dock at La Guaira, with Marines from Littoral Combat Force-24 conducting search-and-rescue operations using MV-22B Osprey and UH-1Y Venom helicopters. C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules aircraft are airlifting supplies, while US Marines are working to repair the port of La Guaira.
A Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) of more than 250 people, including three specialized Urban Search-and-Rescue (USAR) teams, has been deployed. According to the State Department, the USAR teams include 312 personnel and 18 canine teams, bringing specialized rescue equipment and expertise. US Southern Command confirmed that operations are completely self-sustaining, requiring zero local resources.
Diplomatic Context
The cooperation marks a dramatic reversal in US-Venezuela relations. On January 3, 2026, US special forces captured Maduro in a nighttime mission, transporting him to New York where he awaits trial on narco-terrorism and gun charges. Venezuela’s Supreme Court subsequently installed Delcy Rodríguez as interim president. Diplomatic relations have been restored on a temporary basis, though US officials emphasize this cooperation is not a permanent recognition of Rodríguez’s government.
Acting President Rodríguez has publicly thanked the international community for its support. In a post on X, she reported that 30 countries, 3,681 rescuers, 1,086 tons of supplies, and 118 canines have been deployed to bolster search-and-rescue efforts.
Political Reactions
The administration’s Venezuela policy has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., called the Maduro capture “Trump’s illegal and unprovoked bombing of Venezuela and kidnapping of its president,” describing the actions as those of “a rogue state.” Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., argued that Maduro’s election did not give the president the power to invade without congressional approval. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., warned that the capture risked violating international law.
International Response
The disaster has drawn an unprecedented international response, with more than 30 countries sending aid. Spain deployed its Unidad Militar de Emergencias, the UK sent search dogs, China pledged 100 million yuan ($14.7 million), and the Netherlands dispatched the patrol vessel HNLMS Groningen. The UN mobilized more than 2,000 rescuers from 27 countries.
Analysis and Outlook
The earthquake has created an unexpected humanitarian opening between Washington and Caracas, enabling a level of cooperation that would have been unthinkable under Maduro. However, the long-term status of US-Venezuela relations remains uncertain. Key questions persist: Will the US formally recognize Rodríguez’s government? What is the long-term status of the US military presence once humanitarian operations conclude? And how will Maduro’s trial proceed given the changed diplomatic circumstances?
For now, the immediate focus remains on saving lives. American rescue teams have already achieved remarkable successes, including the rescue of a 9-month-old infant from the rubble in Catia La Mar, as reported by Fox News. With schools closed until July 5 and the death toll continuing to rise, the humanitarian crisis remains acute—but the unprecedented US-Venezuela cooperation offers a rare glimmer of hope in a disaster of catastrophic proportions.