On June 25, 2026, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. is prepared to deploy resources to assist Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, struck near the northern coast, causing widespread destruction in Caracas and prompting a state of emergency.
Trump emphasized the U.S. commitment to help, stating that all government agencies have been instructed to act swiftly. The State Department has already mobilized a disaster assistance team to coordinate critical aid, including search and rescue operations and medical supplies. The U.S.
Geological Survey has issued alarming projections, estimating a 41% chance that fatalities could exceed 10,000 and a 17% chance that they could reach 100,000, while also forecasting a potential 7% reduction in Venezuela's GDP due to the disaster.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez reported 32 fatalities and 700 injuries in her address following the earthquakes, which are among the strongest to hit Venezuela in a century.
This rapid U.S. response indicates a possible diplomatic thaw between the Trump administration and Venezuela's interim government, especially in light of the U.S. controlling Venezuela's oil exports since a military intervention earlier this year.
The value of U.S.-controlled oil exports to Venezuela has surged dramatically, reflecting the complex and evolving relationship between the two countries