The Daily Journal. — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Thursday the deployment of specialized search-and-rescue teams to Venezuela following the earthquakes that struck the South American country. The nation’s top diplomat confirmed that initial operations will focus on rescuing survivors and said Washington will rely on the Department of War for logistical support because structural damage has severely affected Venezuela’s main airport.
Rubio said he spoke by phone with Venezuela’s Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, to assess conditions on the ground and coordinate on the country’s immediate needs.
“I had the opportunity to speak earlier this morning with Delcy Rodríguez, the acting president. Obviously, we are already deploying search-and-rescue teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles. We will add additional teams as well. Right now, their most urgent need is search-and-rescue operations,” the Secretary of State said.
Military assets support relief operations
The earthquakes severely damaged the air access points serving the Venezuelan capital, forcing the U.S. administration to redesign its transportation logistics for relief supplies and emergency personnel.
“They have a large number of collapsed buildings, so they will need significant assistance digging through the debris. The airport there has suffered extensive damage, so we will rely on the Department of War to deploy resources into the area,” Rubio explained.
The U.S. diplomat also said that Caracas’ international airport has a cracked runway. He added that he discussed the situation with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth because the military “can land under those conditions.”
Rubio also explained that the U.S. government is helping local authorities by providing aerial imagery, particularly in the country’s coastal regions, where officials still lack a complete picture of the damage’s scope and impact.
Humanitarian response takes priority over politics
When reporters asked about the financial cost of the relief effort and whether the United States had allocated a specific dollar amount for the emergency, Rubio said it was “too early” to provide a figure because the first 48 hours require an exclusive focus on locating people trapped beneath collapsed structures.
He also dismissed questions about whether the natural disaster could derail Venezuela’s ongoing political stabilization process.
“No, that is not my concern right now. At this moment, our concern is that people remain trapped beneath the rubble, and we want to help get them out. (…) As for how this fits into the broader stabilization process, I don’t think we’re looking at it through that lens. Obviously, it’s a setback in that regard, but we will get through it,” Rubio emphasized.
The Secretary of State also praised the international response and welcomed the willingness of countries across the region to set political differences aside during the emergency. He highlighted El Salvador as an example, noting that President Nayib Bukele, despite his strained relationship with Venezuela, “was one of the first leaders to step forward and offer a search-and-rescue team.”
