Venezuela Responds Strongly to Trump’s Airspace Warning
Venezuela has sharply criticized US President Donald Trump after he claimed that the airspace over and around the country should be considered “closed.” The Venezuelan government called the remark a “colonialist threat” and accused the US of once again interfering in its internal affairs.
In a statement, Venezuela’s foreign ministry described Trump’s message as “extravagant, illegal, and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people.”
Does the US Have Authority to Close Another Country’s Airspace?
Legally, no. The US cannot decide the status of another nation’s airspace. However, Trump’s public warning could create confusion for airlines and discourage pilots or carriers from flying near the region.
This controversy comes as the US continues to increase its military presence in the Caribbean. While Washington says the buildup is aimed at stopping drug trafficking, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claims it’s an attempt to remove him from power.
Trump’s Social Media Post Sparks Tension
On Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
The White House has not yet commented on the statement.
Just days earlier, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines of “heightened military activity in and around Venezuela,” adding to the uncertainty.
Venezuela Condemns US Actions
Venezuela accused the US of “unilaterally suspending” weekly migrant repatriation flights and urged global organizations—including the UN—to condemn what it calls immoral aggression.
The tensions escalated further when Venezuela banned six major international airlines—Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, Latam, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines—after they failed to meet a deadline to resume operations.
US Military Buildup Near Venezuela
The US has deployed the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, along with about 15,000 troops near Venezuelan waters. It’s the biggest US military move in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama.
Washington says its goal is to stop drug trafficking. Trump even warned that operations to halt drug routes “by land” would begin “very soon.”
So far, US forces have conducted at least 21 strikes on boats they say were carrying drugs, resulting in over 80 deaths. However, the US has not provided evidence confirming that these vessels were transporting narcotics.
Accusations Around the ‘Cartel of the Suns’
The US has designated Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) as a foreign terrorist organization, claiming it is led by President Maduro and has deeply corrupted Venezuela’s military and government institutions.
Venezuela has strongly rejected this label. Diosdado Cabello, a top official accused of being part of the cartel, insists the group is an “invention.”
The US stands firm, saying the cartel is real and dangerous.
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