US President Donald Trump has declared that the airspace above and around Venezuela is “closed in its entirety,” amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.
"To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY," Trump said through a post on Truth Social.
Trump had said earlier this week that the United States is preparing new measures against alleged drug-trafficking networks in Venezuela, telling service members during a Thanksgiving call that operations involving ground strikes would begin “very soon.”
“In recent weeks, you’ve been working to deter Venezuelan drug traffickers, of which there are many. Of course, there aren’t too many coming in by sea anymore,” Trump said, as cited by CNN.
Trump added that fewer shipments were coming in by sea and said the US would soon move to block trafficking routes on land as well, calling those operations “easier” and set to begin “very soon.” He warned alleged traffickers to “stop sending poison” into the United States.
Earlier this week, Trump also designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his close associates as part of a foreign terrorist organization.
The move labels the so-called “Cartel de los Soles”, a term experts say refers more to allegedly corrupt officials than to a structured criminal group, as a foreign terrorist entity, giving Trump expanded authority to impose new sanctions on Maduro’s assets and infrastructure, as cited by CNN.
The United States has deployed more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops to the region under what the Pentagon calls “Operation Southern Spear.” As part of this anti–drug trafficking campaign, US forces have carried out boat strikes that have resulted in more than 80 deaths.
Last week, the US aviation regulator cautioned major airlines about a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela, citing a deteriorating security landscape and increased military activity in the area.
In response, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had halted flights after the FAA issued its warning.
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