US military conducts first exercise over Caracas since Maduro's fall

The US military conducted an exercise over Venezuela's capital, Caracas, on Saturday, marking the first such operation since American special forces apprehended former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife in January. The Venezuelan government confirmed it had approved the exercise, describing it as an evacuation drill for health emergencies or disasters.

The operation involved two V-22 Osprey aircraft that landed near the US Embassy in Caracas. Vessels sailing into Venezuelan waters in the Caribbean Sea also participated. Francis Donovan, commander of the US military's Southern Command (Southcom), was aboard one of the Ospreys and met with officials from Venezuela's acting government upon arrival.

Details of Donovan's meetings and discussions remain unclear. Southcom oversees South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. A Caracas resident, Evelyn Rebolledo, expressed unease, stating, "A foreign country flying over the city, that's new to us. And even more so when it's the US – considering the current situation and all the unrest. It leaves us in a state of uncertainty."

The administration of former US President Donald Trump supported Venezuela's acting government, led by Delcy Rodriguez, who previously served as vice president under Maduro. Rodriguez has enacted laws to open Venezuela's vast oil and mining resources to the US. Following his apprehension in January, Maduro was brought to the US to await trial, where he pleaded not guilty.

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It makes us constantly vigilant. A foreign country flying over the city, that's new to us. And even more so when it's the US – considering the current situation and all the unrest. It leaves us in a state of uncertainty.