As US military operations against drug cartels near Venezuela continue, President Donald Trump declared that the airspace over and around the country should be considered closed, marking an escalation in tensions with leftist leader Nicolás Maduro.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, “please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY”.
Trump’s declaration follows weeks of mounting tensions between Venezuela and the United States as Washington has intensified pressure on Maduro’s government through sanctions and surveillance operations targeting regional drug cartels. Caracas has accused the US of violating its sovereignty, while American officials have warned of escalating security threats surrounding Venezuelan airspace.
The United States has positioned an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and executed deadly strikes on vessels it claims were engaged in drug trafficking. The USS Gerald R. Ford, a prominent aircraft carrier, arrived in the Caribbean last week, completing a military buildup in the region unseen in decades.
Earlier this week, Trump warned he might soon target Venezuelan drug networks “by land”. During Thanksgiving remarks to service members, he stated that US forces had reduced sea-based smuggling by about 85 percent and would soon shift focus to land operations, which he described as “easier”.
In a televised address on Thursday, Maduro insisted that Venezuelans would not be intimidated, accusing Washington of escalating “excuses and lies” to justify possible intervention. Venezuela’s communications ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump’s announcement.
The US Federal Aviation Administration recently warned airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela, citing a “deteriorating security situation and increased military activity”. In response, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the nation.
While the United States cannot legally close another country’s airspace, Trump’s statement could deter airlines from operating in Venezuela and create travel uncertainties. US forces have conducted at least 21 strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, resulting in at least 83 deaths.
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