U.S. Conducts Military Drill at Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela

On May 23, 2026, the U.S. military conducted a rapid response drill at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, landing two Marine Corps Ospreys in the embassy parking lot. The drill was part of efforts to ensure military readiness for potential medical or catastrophic emergencies, as stated by the embassy on Instagram. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yván Gil confirmed the exercise was announced earlier in the week. The U.S. embassy had reopened two months prior following the restoration of diplomatic relations after the ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro in January. Some residents observed the drill, while others protested against it, displaying a Venezuelan flag with the message “No to the Yankee drill.” This military exercise follows a previous incident on January 3, when U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife amid allegations of drug trafficking.