900 US soldiers on the ground in Venezuela
The United States deployed 900 soldiers to Venezuela to assist with earthquake recovery efforts, a remarkable show of direct military involvement.
Snapshot · The Daily
The Fallout of Massive Earthquakes for Venezuela — and the U.S.
Explore episode
Jul 2, 2026
Where this was said
US Aid and the Deepening Alliance with Rodríguez
At 29:30 · chapter starts 29:05
As the acute rescue phase wound down and reconstruction began, US involvement ramped up dramatically. Karmanayev credits the US contribution as genuinely impactful — its helicopters, logistical infrastructure, and financial commitment made a real difference that would otherwise have been absent. But the political cost is significant. The US privately told Delcy Rodríguez they are 'all in' on her government. Public statements from Washington praised her response effusively. A US government statement noted that the Venezuelan government had 'agreed to all of their requests' — language that, Karmanayev notes, implies the US is the one making the decisions. The earthquake has transformed an already unusual alliance into something deeper and more explicit.
US Commits 900 Soldiers and $300M — Then Deepens the Alliance
The US deployed 900 soldiers and pledged $300 million in aid. More significantly, US officials told Delcy Rodríguez they are 'all in' on her. Statements from Washington now imply Venezuela simply approves decisions the US has already made — a stunning reversal of any notion of national sovereignty.
US committed $300M in aid to Venezuela
The Trump administration committed $300 million in aid to Venezuela following the earthquakes, underscoring the depth of the new US-Venezuelan alliance.
The Earthquake Kills the Plan for Free Elections
The Trump administration had a three-stage plan for Venezuela: economic recovery, political stabilization, then transition to free elections. Secretary Rubio himself admitted the earthquake complicates that plan. The alliance with Rodríguez is now deeper than ever — making elections harder to imagine than before.
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