US President Donald Trump announced that, according to his decision, the airspace above and around Venezuela is to be considered closed. In his statement, he said that this measure applies to „to all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers“ and requested that the airspace be respected as completely off-limits. According to Reuters, this is the most significant step yet in the US pressure on the Venezuelan government, which Washington has long accused of tolerating large-scale smuggling of cocaine and other drugs.
In recent months, the US military has significantly strengthened its presence in the Caribbean. According to US military officials, a fleet of warships supplemented by a nuclear submarine and several thousand soldiers is operating there. The United States also reports that since September, it has sunk at least twenty speedboats used by drug smugglers, killing more than eighty people in the process.
Both Reuters and the American media point out that these operations are being conducted without the consent of the Venezuelan government, raising questions about the legality of their implementation in foreign waters.
Even before Trump's announcement, the FAA had issued a warning to airlines, recommending that they avoid flying over Venezuela due to increased military activity and the uncertain security situation. According to The Guardian, Caracas subsequently revoked the operating licences of six foreign airlines, which suspended their flights to the country.
The Venezuelan government has described these moves as „hostile“ and claims that the US is looking for a pretext for military intervention.
Trump also suggested that the US may consider ground operations against drug cartels in the future if Caracas fails to cooperate. According to US media, this rhetoric may indicate the possibility of further military action, which increases tensions between the two countries.
According to international analysts, the current situation represents one of the most serious escalations in US-Venezuelan relations in recent years. The closure of airspace has an impact on civil transport, trade and regional stability, and raises questions about future developments — especially if the US decides to enforce this measure by force.
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