URGENT UPDATE: Former President Donald Trump has declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela “closed in its entirety,” escalating fears of military conflict in the region. This announcement comes amid a significant buildup of US military forces, including thousands of personnel and naval assets, raising alarms about a potential intervention against President Nicolás Maduro.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned, “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.” As of 12:15 PM local time, reports indicate a dramatic reduction in aircraft activity over Venezuelan airspace, with no flights observed over the capital, Caracas.
The heightened tensions are underscored by a substantial military presence near South America, including the USS Gerald R. Ford, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Officials speculate that Trump may be leveraging this military might to facilitate an operation aimed at ousting Maduro, reflecting a long-standing adversarial relationship between the US and Venezuela.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already alerted airlines to a “potentially hazardous situation” for flights operating in Venezuelan airspace, citing increased military activity and deteriorating security conditions. This warning has proven prescient, as Venezuela’s civil aviation authority announced just hours earlier that several international airlines, including Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM, Gol, and Turkish Airlines, would have their flight authorizations revoked due to their alleged involvement in “state terrorism promoted by the United States government.”
The backdrop to these developments includes a series of US military strikes targeting vessels in international waters off Venezuela and Colombia, which have resulted in at least 83 deaths—many of whom were reportedly fishermen. Critics, including Latin American leaders, international legal experts, and some members of the US Congress, have condemned these actions as extrajudicial executions, arguing that most casualties were innocent bystanders.
In response to the escalating situation, Maduro has accused the US of fabricating “excuses and lies” to justify its military posture, characterizing the conflict as an ongoing war against his government. The Venezuelan president has also pointed out the hypocrisy of US claims of targeting drug trafficking while his country faces a barrage of military threats.
As the situation unfolds, international observers are watching closely. The implications of Trump’s declaration could reshape the geopolitical landscape in South America. With fears of armed conflict growing, the world waits to see how both nations will respond in the coming hours and days.
Stay tuned for more updates as this situation develops.
