US Navy ship USS San Antonio arrives in Venezuela for earthquake relief

The US Navy amphibious ship USS San Antonio (LPD‑17) docked at the Port of La Guaira on July 9, 2026 to support humanitarian relief after the twin earthquakes that devastated Venezuela’s central coast, killing thousands. The vessel is operating a communications and distribution node to deliver life‑saving aid, joining the already‑present USS Fort Lauderdale and the coastal patrol ship USS Billings.

U.S. Southern Command head Gen. Francis Donovan travelled to Caracas to coordinate the effort with Venezuelan leaders, including interim president Delcy Rodríguez, interior minister Diosdado Cabello, and defence minister Gustavo González López. More than 2,000 U.S. service members, including Marines, are deployed in the La Guaira region. The operation was described as a “operativo sin precedentes” and part of the “firme compromiso del presidente Donald Trump” to assist the disaster‑stricken population.