U.S. President Donald Trump ignited anxiety and confusion in Caracas after declaring on Saturday that the airspace "above and surrounding Venezuela" should be considered "closed in its entirety."
The statement, posted on Truth Social, was directed at "Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers," but lacked any clarifying details. U.S. officials and the Pentagon were reportedly unaware of any concrete military operations or formal closure plan to enforce Trump's announcement.
Caracas condemned the statement as a "colonialist threat," calling it a "hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act, incompatible with the principles of international law" and a serious breach of international law.
Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula noted that imposing a no-fly zone would require significant resources and planning, stating, "The devil's in the details." The announcement follows an intensifying U.S. campaign against President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. accuses of involvement in the illegal drug trade.
The U.S. has been considering options, including regime change, and has conducted massive military buildups and strikes on suspected drug boats off the coast. Caracas residents expressed concern that the closure would prevent travel for work, business, and family visits, especially ahead of the holidays.
Venezuelan ally Iran denounced the announcement as a "serious breach of international law and a threat to global aviation safety." Venezuela's government stated the order amounts to a unilateral suspension of the twice-weekly migrant deportation flights from the U.S.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously warned major airlines of a "potentially hazardous situation" when flying over Venezuela due to a "worsening security situation and heightened military activity."
Following the FAA warning, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines. GPS signals in Venezuela have reportedly been affected in recent weeks amid the U.S. military buildup.
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