US Embassy Evacuation Drill Conducted in Caracas with Venezuelan Authorization

The Venezuelan government authorized the United States to carry out an evacuation drill at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas on 23 May 2026. The exercise involved the controlled overflight of two aircraft—reported as military helicopters or tilt‑rotor aircraft—and their landing on the embassy compound, with participation from Venezuelan fire‑engine and ambulance crews and the Venezuelan Red Cross.

The operation was coordinated with Venezuela’s civil‑aviation authorities and other national agencies responsible for security and emergency protocols. It is described by both governments as part of the regular diplomatic‑security and protection procedures that were reinstated after the two countries restored diplomatic relations in March 2026.

U.S. officials announced the drill on social media, noting that it tests rapid‑response capabilities and references the three‑phase plan outlined by the U.S. administration for Venezuela. Reports also mention that two U.S. naval vessels, the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and the guided‑missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, supported the exercise from nearby Caribbean waters.