Donald Trump has announced the complete closure of the airspace above and around Venezuela amid escalating concerns of potential armed conflicts. The directive, shared on Truth Social by Trump, explicitly instructs airlines, pilots, drug traffickers, and human traffickers to acknowledge the airspace closure over Venezuela.
Initial observations indicate a significant impact from the airspace closure, with minimal air traffic passing over Venezuela and none reported over Caracas as of 12.15 pm local time. Venezuela has not yet responded to this action.
Speculations are rising that Trump might utilize the US military presence in the area, which includes a substantial troop deployment, a nuclear submarine, and a fleet of warships accompanying the USS Gerald R Ford, to potentially launch an offensive against Venezuela with the aim of removing President Nicolas Maduro from power.
This recent declaration follows a prior warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to major airlines regarding potential risks when flying over Venezuela due to heightened military activities and deteriorating security conditions in and around the country.
Venezuela’s civil aviation authority recently announced the revocation of flight permits for several airlines, including Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Colombia’s Avianca, Chile’s and Brazil’s LATAM, Brazil’s Gol, and Turkish Airlines. The authority cited the airlines’ alleged involvement in what they termed as “actions of state terrorism instigated by the United States government.”
Tensions between the US and Venezuela have been escalating, with a significant US military buildup off the South American coast and reported military actions targeting vessels in international waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 individuals.
The US has alleged that the targeted boats were engaged in drug trafficking activities. However, Latin American leaders, international legal experts, victims’ families, and some US lawmakers have criticized these actions as extrajudicial killings, claiming that most of those killed were fishermen.
Accusations of drug trafficking have been exchanged between the US and Maduro’s administration, with Maduro accusing the US government of fabricating a continuous conflict against him. Maduro has also accused the US of intensifying its justifications for potential intervention in Venezuela.