Ángel Bermúdez

The United States, led by the Trump administration, has taken a central role in Venezuela’s response to the devastating June earthquakes, deploying military assets, providing over US$300 million in aid, and coordinating large-scale logistics through the US Southern Command. The extensive involvement has raised questions due to Washington’s earlier capture of Nicolás Maduro and its antagonistic stance toward figures like Diosdado Cabello, whose meetings with US officials sparked controversy across Venezuela’s political spectrum. Despite criticism linked to control of Venezuelan oil revenues and perceived political motives, surveys show high Venezuelan trust in US crisis management. Tensions also emerged over opposition leader María Corina Machado’s attempts to return to the country. Analysts argue that US actions reflect pragmatic crisis response rather than a shift in long-term policy, with Washington enabling unprecedented humanitarian access compared with past Venezuelan crises.

A US deportation flight carrying 146 Venezuelan migrants arrived in La Guaira just hours before two major earthquakes destroyed the hotel complex where they were being processed, killing most of those inside. Survivors describe escaping the collapse on their own while alleging delayed and insufficient response from Venezuelan authorities, particularly Sebin. Families searched hospitals and morgues for missing relatives while demanding information and access to the site. Informal survivor counts suggest only a small number lived through the disaster, and relatives continue to call for accountability and the return of bodies.