U.S. Marine Osprey Landings Conduct Rapid Response Drill in Caracas

The U.S. military conducted a rapid response exercise in Venezuela’s capital on Saturday, with two Marine Corps Osprey aircraft landing at the recently reopened U.S. Embassy in Caracas. The aircraft, which combine features of a helicopter and a fixed-wing airplane, flew over the embassy compound and landed in the parking lot, where forces descended as the downdraft blew tree branches. The embassy described the drill as a demonstration of rapid response capability, a key component of mission readiness in Venezuela and around the world.

The Venezuelan government announced the exercise earlier in the week. Foreign Minister Yván Gil said the drill was intended to prepare for potential medical emergencies or catastrophic contingencies. He added that the operation would be coordinated with Venezuelan aeronautical authorities, who would supervise the overflights, and that the Venezuelan Red Cross would participate in the evacuation and emergency response components.

The exercise took place nearly two months after the U.S. formally reopened its embassy in Caracas in early April, following the restoration of full diplomatic relations. That normalization came after the ouster of then...