US Military Conducts Evacuation Drill at Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela
On May 23-24, 2026, the US military conducted a rapid response evacuation drill at its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, using two MV-22B Osprey aircraft. Authorized by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s government, the exercise simulated medical or catastrophic evacuations and was observed by US Southern Command General Francis Donovan. The drill occurred months after the US capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026 and the reestablishment of US-Venezuela diplomatic relations in March. Venezuelan grassroots groups protested the drills as a humiliation.
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Venezuelan Popular Movements Protest US Military Drills in Caracas
On May 24, 2026, Venezuelan grassroots organizations protested US military 'rapid response' drills in Caracas. Dozens of activists from the ALBA Movimientos coalition gathered at Plaza Venezuela, expressing outrage over the exercises occurring less than five months after the January 3 US bombings and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Speakers condemned US-Israel actions against Iran and threats to Cuba, while supporting Acting President Delcy Rodríguez. Separate rallies occurred in Chacaíto and Plaza Bolívar, with participants burning posters of US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. US forces flew two Osprey MV-22B aircraft over Caracas, landing near the embassy. SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis Donovan oversaw the drills and met with senior Venezuelan officials. The Venezuelan government initially authorized 'evacuation exercises' but deleted the statement amid public backlash.
VenezuelanalysisUS Ospreys Hover Over Venezuelan Capital During Embassy Evacuation Drill
The US military conducted a 'response exercise' in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 23, 2026, rehearsing an emergency evacuation at the US Embassy. The drill involved two USMC MV-22B Osprey aircraft landing near the embassy and naval vessels entering Venezuelan waters. Authorized by Venezuelan authorities, it was the first US military drill in the country since the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, who were flown to the USS Iwo Jima. The US embassy stated the exercise ensured rapid response capability. A small protest occurred, with activists condemning the drill as a 'humiliation' to the nation. Maduro remains incarcerated in the US on drug trafficking charges, which he denies, calling himself a 'prisoner of war.'
RT - Daily newsUS Marines Stage Mock Evacuation Drill at Venezuela Embassy in Caracas
On May 23, 2026, two US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 263 conducted a rapid response evacuation drill at the US embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. The exercise, the largest American military display in the city since Operation Absolute Resolve in January 2026, involved Marines exiting the aircraft and simulating an evacuation. Marine Corps Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of US Southern Command, and embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Barrett participated. The drill comes four months after US special operations forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a nighttime raid, extraditing him to New York. The US embassy in Caracas reopened in March 2026 after a seven-year closure. The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which played a major role in the earlier operation, remains in the Caribbean, recently joined by the USS Nimitz carrier strike group.
Task & PurposeUS Marines Stage Mock Evacuation Drill at Venezuela Embassy in Caracas
On May 23, 2026, US Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 263 conducted a rapid response evacuation drill at the US embassy in Caracas, Venezuela. The exercise, the largest American military display in the city since Operation Absolute Resolve in January 2025, involved two Ospreys landing in the embassy parking lot. Marine Corps Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of US Southern Command, and embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Barrett participated. The drill comes four months after US special operations forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in a nighttime raid. The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which played a major role in that operation, remains in the Caribbean, and the USS Nimitz carrier strike group recently entered the region. The US embassy in Caracas reopened in March 2026 after being closed for seven years.
Task & PurposeU.S. Marines Conduct Mock Evacuation Drill at Venezuela Embassy in Caracas
On May 23, 2026, U.S. Marines from Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 263 conducted a rapid response evacuation drill at the U.S. embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, using two MV-22 Ospreys. The exercise, the largest American military display in the city since the January 2026 capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Operation Absolute Resolve, was attended by U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. Francis Donovan and embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Barrett. The drill underscores ongoing U.S. military readiness in the region, with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group remaining in the Caribbean and the USS Nimitz carrier strike group recently arriving. The embassy reopened in March 2026 after a seven-year closure.
Task & PurposeMarines stage mock evacuation at Venezuela embassy
On May 23, 2026, U.S. Marines conducted a rapid response evacuation drill at the U.S. embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, using two MV-22 Ospreys from Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 263. The exercise, the largest American military display in the city since the January 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Operation Absolute Resolve, involved Marine Corps Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, and embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Barrett. The drill comes four months after U.S. special operations forces raided Caracas to seize Maduro, who was extradited to New York. The U.S. embassy reopened in March after seven years of closure. The Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, which participated in the earlier operation, remains in the Caribbean, recently joined by the USS Nimitz carrier strike group.
Task & PurposeUS Military Aircraft Fly Over Caracas in Drill Authorized by Venezuela
On May 24, 2026, two US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft flew over Caracas and landed at the US embassy in Venezuela as part of a military drill authorized by the Venezuelan government. Caracas described the operation as an emergency evacuation drill for medical or catastrophic scenarios, while Washington characterized it as a rapid response exercise demonstrating military deployment capability. US Southern Command General Francis Donovan observed the maneuver in person. Local emergency teams participated, and the activity drew attention and protests from neighbors. The drill occurred nearly five months after the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and amid heightened US-Cuba tensions, with US military units deployed near the Venezuelan coast.
La TerceraUS military conducts evacuation drill at embassy in Caracas, Venezuela
On May 23, 2026, the United States began an evacuation drill at its embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, involving two helicopters with soldiers on board, as well as fire and ambulance personnel. The drill, described as a military response exercise for possible medical situations or catastrophes, was authorized by the Venezuelan government under President Delcy Rodríguez. The US embassy stated the exercise ensures rapid response capability and is part of the White House's three-phase plan for Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2026. The Venezuelan government confirmed coordination with aeronautical authorities and the Venezuelan Red Cross. The drill comes after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the US and Venezuela in March 2026, ending a seven-year rupture.
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