The United States Conducts Military Exercises in Venezuela

On May 23, Xinhua News Agency reported from Caracas (Reporter Xu Yongzheng) that the United States held military exercises in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, on the 23rd. This is the first time the U.S. has conducted military exercises in Venezuela since launching a large-scale military operation against the country in January and forcibly taking President Maduro away.

On that day, two U.S. military aircraft flew over Caracas and landed in the area of the U.S. embassy in Venezuela. The U.S. Southern Command stated on social media that the exercise involved two U.S. MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft, and it also released images and videos of the aircraft landing and armed personnel operating in the embassy area.

During the exercise, some Venezuelan citizens held protests in downtown Caracas. Protesters shouted slogans such as "No exercises!" and "Yankees, go home!" condemning U.S. interference in Venezuela.

57-year-old Caracas resident Evelyn Revoledo told the media that the U.S. military exercises in Venezuela "make us vigilant," and that "foreign (military aircraft) flying over the city... makes us uneasy."

In response to the military exercise conducted by the U.S., the Venezuelan government issued a statement on the 22nd saying it had authorized the U.S. to conduct an "evacuation drill" to address "potential medical situations or disasters."

On January 3 of this year, the U.S. launched a large-scale military strike against Venezuela, forcibly controlling Maduro and his wife and bringing them to the U.S. On March 5, the governments of the U.S. and Venezuela announced an agreement to restore diplomatic and consular relations.