U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that the airspace in and around Venezuela should be designated as “completely closed,” sparking further speculation about the U.S.’s stance on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The Venezuelan government criticized Trump’s statement as a “colonial threat” aimed at undermining the country’s sovereignty.
The White House did not provide clarification on Trump’s announcement made on his Truth Social platform, leaving uncertainty about whether it signaled a new policy direction or simply reinforced existing messaging against Maduro. The U.S. has been actively targeting drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean while increasing naval presence in the region, resulting in over 80 casualties since early September.
President Trump directed his call for an aerial blockade towards “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” rather than directly at Maduro.
In response, Venezuela’s government strongly denounced Trump’s assertion about closing the airspace, labeling it as a “colonial threat” designed to undermine the country’s “territorial integrity, aeronautical security, and complete sovereignty.”
Additionally, U.S. immigration authorities unilaterally halted deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants, following negotiations between the two nations. Despite the suspension, over 13,000 Venezuelans have been deported back to their country this year through chartered flights, with the latest arriving in Caracas late Friday.
Last week, international airlines began canceling flights to Venezuela after the Federal Aviation Administration advised caution to pilots due to increased military activity in the area.
The FAA typically alerts pilots about potential risks in flying over conflict zones globally, as was the case with Venezuela earlier this month. Both the FAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization were unavailable for immediate comment regarding this matter.
The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Maduro, not recognizing him as the legitimate leader of Venezuela, where he faces narcoterrorism allegations in the U.S. U.S. forces have conducted bomber flights near Venezuela, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, has been deployed to the region. This deployment marks a significant buildup of U.S. military presence in the area, encompassing nearly a dozen Navy ships and around 12,000 sailors and Marines as part of “Operation Southern Spear.”
Amid bipartisan calls for enhanced oversight of military actions against vessels in the region, a report by The Washington Post revealed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s verbal order to eliminate all crew members during a September 2 attack on suspected drug traffickers.
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Democratic Sen. Jack Reed from Rhode Island jointly announced that the Senate Armed Services Committee would conduct thorough oversight to ascertain the facts surrounding these events.
Trump’s administration has explored various options, including both military and non-military strategies, in dealing with Venezuela, including potential covert operations by the CIA. Despite public indications of a willingness to engage with Maduro, details of a reported conversation between Trump and Maduro were not confirmed by the White House.