VENEZUELA harshly condemned US President Donald Trump for declaring its airspace as off-limits. Foreign affairs officials labeled the remark as an "anti-colonial provocation" and "a further provocative, unlawful and unfair assault on the Venezuelan populace. Officials contend that Washington lacks jurisdiction over restricting airspace in other countries; however, their statements have sparked worries regarding flight delays and air traffic control issues.
A conflict arises concurrently with an increasing number of U. S. troops stationed in the Caribbean region, where government representatives assert these deployments aim to combat illegal narcotics trafficking. Maduro rejects these accusations; he accuses Washington of employing drug charges as an excuse to promote regime overthrows. In Trump's message posted on Truth Social, he specifically targeted aviation companies by advising against flying over Venezuela altogether. Despite receiving numerous inquiries seeking an explanation, the White House remains unresponsive in addressing these queries.
Following an FAA advisory recently issued by the United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning of "increased military presence near Venezuela," President Trump's remarks have been made. The alert has heightened confusion among those managing traffic within this area. Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs intensified its criticism against the U. S. , asserting they had unilaterally halted regular migrant return flights. It urged the UN and other global entities to condemn this "morally reprehensible" action. .
Caracas made an unprecedented announcement by prohibiting all six prominent global carriers: Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, LATAM, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines—from operating flights within its airspace. The officials announced that airlines did not meet their requirement of resuming operations within forty-eight hours as scheduled. As tensions rise, it becomes evident how far apart Washington and Caracas have become, particularly concerning issues like air travel and immigration as they intertwine into larger regional conflicts.