Overview
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) is surging available assigned U.S. military forces in our region to support Department of State-led U.S. government relief operations in Venezuela, following the devastating earthquakes that struck the nation June 24, 2026. The interim Venezuelan authorities formally requested U.S. assistance in the aftermath.
SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan has directed significant forces to the effort, including the amphibious transport ship USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) and the littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15). C-17 Globemaster and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft will also support, along with reconnaissance platforms and rotary-wing aircraft.
These forces will provide specialized mobility services and support to U.S. government personnel, search and rescue teams, and U.S. interagency partners as they assess damage, locate the injured, and deliver critical, life-saving assistance.
Background Information
U.S. military foreign disaster response efforts support the Department of State's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the designated lead U.S. federal agency for foreign disaster relief.
In the Western Hemisphere, U.S. military forces have a long history of assisting partner nations in times of dire need. The most significant recent operation took place in Jamaica in 2025, in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
Historically, U.S. military capabilities are needed most during the critical, early stages of a disaster relief operation, when more resources, capabilities, and disaster-response experts are needed to assist victims and affected communities. As these missions progress and more experienced experts assume a greater role in longer-term recovery and reconstruction, U.S. military capabilities are typically no longer requested, and the roles once performed by military units are assumed by other, more specialized relief organizations.
Department of State's Venezuela Earthquakes Information page (State.gov)