Donald Trump announced that the airspace above and around Venezuela is now to be regarded as “closed in its entirety,” urging airlines, pilots—and even traffickers—to stay away.
The move comes after a recent advisory from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which had warned airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” linked to heightened military activity near Venezuelan territory. During recent months, U.S. forces have significantly increased their presence in the region, launching strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking and positioning naval and air assets near the Caribbean coast.
Under the new directive, the United States is signaling readiness to treat unauthorized flights into Venezuelan airspace as violations, essentially turning the zone into a restricted or militarized zone. Venezuelan authorities have already responded by revoking the operating licenses of several international carriers that suspended service following the FAA warning.
The escalation dramatically raises stakes in U.S.–Venezuela relations, especially as accusations intensify around alleged ties between Venezuelan leadership and narcotrafficking networks. The closure appears to set the stage for further U.S. actions under what Washington describes as a campaign to intercept drug trafficking and cartel-related threats emanating from Venezuelan waters and borders.