In a dramatic escalation of tensions, former US President Donald Trump has declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed in its entirety. The warning, issued via his Truth Social platform, directly addresses airlines, pilots, and even illicit actors, marking a significant hardening of the US stance against the leftist government of Nicolas Maduro.
Military Buildup and Rising Tensions
The airspace declaration is part of a broader US military pressure campaign. The Trump administration has orchestrated a major military deployment in the Caribbean, which notably includes the world's largest aircraft carrier. Washington maintains the operation's goal is to curb drug trafficking, a claim vehemently rejected by Caracas, which insists the true objective is regime change.
This military posture is not merely symbolic. Since early September, US forces have conducted strikes against more than 20 alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. These actions have resulted in the deaths of at least 83 people. Experts have raised concerns, noting that these strikes amount to extrajudicial killings, especially as Washington has yet to publicly release evidence proving the targeted vessels were smuggling drugs.
Regional Fallout and Travel Chaos
The escalating situation has had immediate and severe consequences for air travel. A US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) caution advisory, citing the worsening security situation and heightened military activity, prompted a cascade of flight suspensions.
In a decisive response, six major international airlines halted services to Venezuela. The affected carriers are:
- Iberia (Spain)
- TAP (Portugal)
- Avianca (Colombia)
- LATAM (Chile and Brazil)
- GOL (Brazil)
- Turkish Airlines
The Venezuelan government reacted furiously, banning all six airlines for, in its words, joining the actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States government.
A Deepening Political Standoff
President Nicolas Maduro, whose 2024 re-election was widely condemned internationally as fraudulent, perceives the US operation as a covert mission to oust him. He has responded defiantly by staging military exercises and mass rallies to project an image of strength and popular support.
Adding another layer to the complex situation, a report from The New York Times revealed that Trump and Maduro held a phone conversation last week, during which a potential meeting in the United States was discussed. This report emerged just a day after Trump hinted that efforts to combat Venezuelan drug trafficking by land would begin very soon.
The US military presence near Venezuela's borders is intensifying, with aircraft tracking websites reporting constant activity by US fighter jets just dozens of kilometers off the Venezuelan coast. Furthermore, regional cooperation with the US is growing, with the Dominican Republic granting access to airport facilities and Trinidad and Tobago hosting US Marine Corps exercises.
