Venezuela Suspends Migrant Repatriation flights Following Trump‘s Airspace Declaration
Caracas, Venezuela – Repatriation flights bringing Venezuelan migrants back from the United States have been halted following a statement by former President Donald Trump regarding Venezuelan airspace. The Maduro government has characterized Trump’s declaration as a unilateral action that disrupts the logistical framework for these flights.
For eleven months, a bilateral agreement had facilitated the return of Venezuelan citizens wishing to return home. According to official Venezuelan figures, 75 flights have repatriated 13,956 Venezuelans since January. The suspension throws the future of this established return pathway into uncertainty.
The disruption stems from a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he stated that Venezuelan airspace “will remain closed in its entirety.” Venezuelan officials view this as a break from the collaborative mechanisms that enabled the flights’ operation. They argue that Trump’s statement lacks the necessary operational details to allow for continued planning and execution of the repatriation program.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has asserted that no foreign entity has the authority to dictate the use of its national airspace, citing the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Institution (ICAO).
Moreover,Venezuelan authorities have expressed concern that Trump’s message represents a potential threat of force,particularly in light of recent U.S. military operations in the caribbean - specifically, the bombing of vessels as part of counter-narcotics efforts. Washington maintains these operations are focused on combating drug trafficking.
the suspension leaves the fate of scheduled repatriation routes unclear and raises questions about the long-term viability of the program,which had become the primary formal channel for the controlled return of Venezuelan migrants.