Delcy Rodríguez tells foreign correspondents why La Guaira was militarized after the earthquakes

At a press conference with international media, acting president Delcy Rodríguez defended the response to the June 24 earthquakes. According to VTV, she said more than 19,000 civilian and military personnel are now in La Guaira and that 147 countries have expressed solidarity. According to EFE, she kept the toll at 2,595 dead and 12,400 injured.

According to El Estímulo, reporters from El País, CNN, Milenio and Telemundo asked about the first 72 hours and about armed troops; she called that a media "narrative". On the opposition side, David Placeres accused the acting president of spinning propaganda to reporters who had been on the ground, and Daniel Lara Farías claimed the militarization aimed to block citizens' help.

«We could not allow media labs and media narratives created to disrupt and sow chaos to obstruct the search and rescue work. It is miserable.»— Delcy Rodríguez, July 3, 2026 · watch

«Delcy Rodríguez is trying, as always, to sell smoke and cheap campaigning, low-cost propaganda, to international journalists who have been on the ground and know what happened»— David Placeres, July 3, 2026 · watch