President Donald Trump on Saturday ordered the closure of airspace above and around Venezuela, escalating tensions between Washington and President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. has accused of cooperating with narco-terrorist networks involved in drug trafficking.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The move followed a recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) security notice advising airlines and pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace due to what it described as a “worsening security situation,” increased military activity, and possible GPS interference.
Venezuela responded on Thursday by revoking operating rights for six major international airlines that had already suspended flights in light of the FAA’s warning.
Trump’s directive had gone beyond the FAA’s advisory, indicating that the United States now viewed Venezuelan airspace as a direct security threat rather than merely a cautionary flight zone.
In a statement, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil condemns Trump’s announcement, calling it a “hostile, unilateral, and arbitrary act” and alleging it violates the United Nations Charter. He describes the order as “an illegal and unjustified act of aggression” against the Venezuelan people.
The White House has not commented publicly on the president’s declaration.
The administration of Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spent recent months intensifying pressure on Maduro, including deploying additional U.S. military assets to the Caribbean and authorizing strikes on vessels the White House claims are used for drug trafficking.
These actions have drawn international criticism, with some lawmakers expressing concern that the operations may breach international law and expand presidential war powers without congressional approval.
Last month, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the maritime strikes as “unacceptable,” warning that they may violate international legal standards. Trump, meanwhile, has indicated that operations targeting alleged drug smugglers could soon extend to land routes into Venezuela.
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that the president risked overstepping legal boundaries, noting that Congress has not authorized military force against Venezuela.
“Americans are tired of endless foreign wars that cost lives and drain resources,” Schumer said. “We need Republicans and Democrats to work together to ensure that decisions about war return to the people through their representatives.”
