Trump Declares Venezuelan Airspace ‘Closed in Its Entirety’ Amid Rising Tensions

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 :  US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” escalating tensions between Washington and the South American nation.

Addressing airlines, pilots, and criminal actors, Trump wrote via his social media platform Truth Social: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”

The announcement follows months of expanding US military activity across Latin America, including deployments of Marines, warships, fighter jets, bombers, submarines, and drones amid speculation that Washington could mount an operation targeting Venezuela.

According to US officials, the military has conducted 21 operations against suspected drug-smuggling vessels, resulting in at least 83 deaths of individuals described by the administration as “narco-terrorists.”

Earlier this week, Trump indicated that the United States will soon take action to halt suspected Venezuelan drug trafficking on land. The declaration also comes after Washington formally designated the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, accusing President Nicolás Maduro and other senior officials of leading the group.

The Venezuelan government rejected the designation, calling it a “ridiculous” attempt to label a “nonexistent” cartel as a terrorist organization.