US Relief Effort Tests Post-Maduro Strategy in Venezuela After Quakes

The United States is spearheading a significant humanitarian effort in Venezuela after twin earthquakes ravaged the South American nation. This large-scale operation is now putting Washington's strategy for the country's post-Maduro transition to the test.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington is deploying search-and-rescue teams, military logistics, and humanitarian assistance. The earthquakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, struck on Wednesday, resulting in at least 164 deaths and nearly 1,000 injuries.

Since the U.S. operation led to Nicolas Maduro's removal from power earlier this year and his subsequent trial in the United States, American civilian and military officials have made numerous visits to Caracas. They have been collaborating closely with interim President Delcy Rodriguez on matters of security cooperation, economic recovery, and the potential return of U.S. oil companies.

The devastating earthquake presents the first critical challenge to assessing the depth and institutional strength of this post-January partnership, particularly under the strain of a national emergency. "This earthquake is the first real test of whether the post-January relationship has institutional depth beyond oil," noted Orlando J. Perez, a political scientist at the University of North Texas at Dallas.

The U.S. State Department has already activated a disaster relief team and an inter-agency task force to coordinate the American response, according to Jeremy Lewin, the department's undersecretary for humanitarian affairs.

“

This earthquake is the first real test of whether the post-January relationship has institutional depth beyond oil.