On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez publicly extended gratitude to Guyanese President Irfaan Ali for his rapid expression of solidarity in the wake of a catastrophic earthquake that devastated parts of Venezuela the previous day.
Posting to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Rodriguez highlighted Ali’s proactive willingness to extend aid to the Venezuelan people amid one of the nation’s darkest recent moments. She noted that the message from the Guyanese head of state carried strong tones of solidarity, mutual respect, and regional neighborliness, cutting through longstanding geopolitical tensions between the two neighboring South American nations.
As of Thursday’s update, the human cost of the powerful earthquake has climbed to 164 confirmed fatalities, with more than 970 people recorded as injured. The disaster, already classified as the most destructive seismic event to hit Venezuela since 1900, has left hundreds of structures collapsed and thousands more critically damaged across affected areas.
The outreach marks a notable shift in diplomatic tone between the two leaders. For years, Rodriguez has been known for sharp, confrontational rhetoric against Ali and his administration as Venezuela pushes its longstanding territorial claim to Guyana’s resource-rich Essequibo Region. However, following the removal of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by United States forces in January 2026, Rodriguez has softened her public stance toward Guyana, the U.S., and energy giant ExxonMobil — a shift that holds even as Venezuela continues to formally assert its territorial claim.
Guyana is not alone in offering support to crisis-struck Venezuela. Regional neighbors Cuba, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados have also extended offers of assistance to support rescue, recovery and relief efforts in the wake of the disaster.