Summary (tl;dr)

The U.S. Marines recently conducted a rapid response exercise at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, following the restoration of diplomatic relations and the earlier ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro.

Essential Background

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have been high for several years, with the U.S. actively seeking the removal of Nicolás Maduro, who was accused of drug trafficking and illegitimately holding power. In early January 2026, U.S. elite forces captured Maduro and his wife in Caracas, leading to their transport to New York to face drug trafficking charges. Following Maduro's ouster, the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas in March 2026, restoring full diplomatic relations with the South American nation. Leading up to these events, the U.S. had increased its military presence in the Caribbean throughout late 2025, deploying Marines and naval vessels for exercises and counter-narcotics operations, often near Venezuelan waters and in countries like Trinidad and Tobago.

The Full Story

On Saturday, May 23, 2026, the U.S. military conducted a rapid response exercise involving Marines and military aircraft at the recently reopened U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. The drill, which included two Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft flying over and landing near the embassy, was announced by the U.S. Embassy on Instagram to ensure rapid response capability for mission readiness. Venezuela's government had authorized the exercise earlier in the week, with Foreign Minister Yván Gil stating it was to prepare for "medical emergencies or catastrophic emergencies." Marine General Francis Donovan, head of the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), was present at the exercise and met with Venezuelan officials and embassy staff. While some Caracas residents watched the aircraft, a few dozen others protested the exercise elsewhere in the city, holding a Venezuelan flag with the message "No to the Yankee drill." This marks the first U.S. military exercise over Caracas since the January 3 attack that led to Maduro's capture.

Why It Matters

This exercise is significant as it marks a notable display of U.S. military presence in Venezuela's capital since the recent restoration of diplomatic ties and the ouster of former President Maduro. The drill, despite being authorized by the Venezuelan government for emergency preparedness, has elicited mixed reactions, with some residents feeling "on guard" and uncertain due to the foreign military presence and the country's recent turmoil. It underscores the U.S.'s continued commitment to regional security and its three-phase plan for the "stabilization of Venezuela," which includes opening up Venezuela's resources to the U.S. The presence of high-ranking U.S. military officials like Gen. Donovan further emphasizes the strategic importance the U.S. places on its relationship with the new Venezuelan government and stability in the region. The protests, though small, indicate ongoing public sensitivity to foreign military activities within Venezuelan territory.

Geographic Location

• U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Capital District, Venezuela (rapid response exercise)
• Caracas, Capital District, Venezuela (protests against the exercise; previous capture of Maduro)
• Caribbean Ocean (deployment of USS Iwo Jima with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263)
• New York City, New York, United States (Maduro and Flores taken to face drug trafficking charges)
• Trinidad and Tobago (previous Marine training exercises)
• Puerto Rico, United States (previous Marine training exercises)