US Southern Command provides technical, air traffic support at Venezuela airport for earthquake aid

The United States, through its Southern Command and Department of Defense, is actively providing technical and air traffic control support at Venezuela's Maiquetía International Airport. This operation aims to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of humanitarian supplies in the aftermath of recent earthquakes.

General Francis Donovan, head of the U.S. Southern Command, clarified during a virtual press conference that American military personnel are not in control of the airport. Instead, their role is strictly technical and logistical. U.S. Air Force crews are focused on ensuring safe landing and takeoff maneuvers for aircraft carrying humanitarian cargo, as well as managing ground-based unloading and storage.

"Our role is technical and logistical: ensuring air traffic, cargo, and the safe storage of supplies so they reach precisely where the Venezuelan people need them most," Donovan stated. A rapid response team reportedly restored the airport's runways within 24 hours of the earthquakes. To date, the airport has processed 1.5 million pounds of provisions by air and one million pounds via transport ships.

Regarding U.S. relations with Venezuelan officials like Diosdado Cabello, the U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires John Barret stated that the immediate priority is humanitarian assistance. However, he affirmed that the U.S. plan for Venezuela, focused on economic recovery, reconciliation, and democratic transition, remains in effect. General Donovan also noted that the Southern Command does not interfere in political decisions regarding airspace access, limiting its involvement to technical assistance for resource provisioning.