U.S. readies Venezuela aid after deadly twin earthquakes

President Donald Trump said the U.S. would deploy resources to Venezuela after two large earthquakes, measured at magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck near the country’s northern coast and damaged Caracas. Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, said at least 164 people had died and 971 were injured, according to Reuters, while the U.S. Geological Survey estimated the disaster could reduce Venezuela’s GDP by as much as 7%.

The pledge adds a humanitarian layer to a relationship that has shifted since a January U.S. military intervention removed then-President Nicolás Maduro and left Washington exerting control over Venezuelan oil exports. The Council on Foreign Relations estimated that U.S.-controlled exports rose to $3.7 billion in April from $600 million in January, with about $8 billion moving through the arrangement and limited transparency or oversight.

Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday evening that the U.S. was “ready, willing, and able to help” and said he had directed government agencies to prepare to act quickly. He referred to Venezuelans as the country’s “new and great friends.”

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said earlier Wednesday that U.S. officials were communicating with Venezuelan authorities and mobilizing assistance. Jeremy Lewin, a senior State Department official, said the department had activated a disaster assistance team and a task force to coordinate support, including search-and-rescue capacity, medical supplies and humanitarian resources.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the War Department would support logistics because the earthquakes damaged Caracas’ airport. Rubio described the disaster as a setback for efforts to stabilize Venezuela after the January intervention.

Rodríguez declared a state of emergency in a national address Wednesday night, Reuters reported. In a video message posted on X on Thursday morning, she thanked the Trump administration for its support and solidarity, and also thanked the Dominican Republic for sending rescue teams.

Rodríguez said China and Brazil had delivered humanitarian aid. She also said Qatar had prepared a rescue brigade expected to arrive Thursday.

The U.S. Geological Survey issued two consecutive red alerts through its PAGER system, which is used to assess likely earthquake casualties and economic damage. The agency put the probability of deaths exceeding 10,000 at 41% and the chance of fatalities reaching 100,000 at 17%.

The quakes rank among Venezuela’s strongest in the past 100 years, according to NBC News. The country sits in an active seismic zone where the Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate meet, a boundary that can generate powerful earthquakes.

Venezuela’s oil trade remains part of the broader economic context. The Council on Foreign Relations said the U.S. has been the country’s largest oil buyer since January, followed by India and Spain as the next biggest recipients.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC Economy.