US-led relief effort puts Washington’s post-Maduro strategy in Venezuela to test

after twin earthquakes devastated the South American country, putting to the test Washington’s role as the most influential international partner in the country’s post-Maduro transition.

is mounting a large-scale humanitarian operation in Venezuela

said Washington was deploying search-and-rescue teams, military logistics and humanitarian help after Wednesday’s magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes, which have killed at least 164 people and injured nearly 1,000.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Since a US operation removed Nicolas Maduro from power

earlier this year and brought him to the United States to face trial, senior American civilian and military officials have made repeated visits to Caracas, working closely with interim President Delcy Rodriguez

on security cooperation, economic recovery and the return of US oil companies.