Trump Announces Total Closure of Venezuelan Airspace as Tensions Escalate
WASHINGTON - Former President Donald Trump announced the total closure of Venezuelan airspace this past Saturday, amid heightened tensions stemming from U.S.military exercises in the Caribbean and accusations of venezuelan involvement in drug trafficking. The move has left thousands of passengers stranded in Venezuela and abroad, with a 24.7% reduction in flights to and from the country – falling from 105 to 79 per week, according to the Spanish news agency EFE.
The airspace closure follows a period of escalating rhetoric between Washington and Caracas, though signals from both governments remain contradictory. Just two days prior, trump stated the U.S. would “very soon” begin detaining Venezuelan “drug traffickers” “on land” during a virtual audience with military personnel on Thanksgiving Day.
Reports indicate a call took place the previous week between officials from both countries, potentially discussing a face-to-face meeting. Participants reportedly included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the call preceded the State Department’s designation of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a leader of the “Cartel de los Soles,” classified as a “terrorist institution.”
Some U.S. media outlets have noted that announcements of total airspace closures often precede military bombing campaigns. The New York Times reported, citing sources familiar with internal discussions, that potential targets in the event of attacks could include facilities linked to drug trafficking used by Colombian cartels within Venezuela, as well as oil installations. These actions, the Times suggested, could be framed as an anti-drug initiative but were likely intended to weaken Maduro’s power by disrupting funding sources.
despite the airspace closure, several destinations remain officially active, including Mexico (Santa Lucía and Cancún), Colombia (Bogotá), Panama, Peru (Lima), Curaçao, Cuba (Havana), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Barbados. Venezuelan state-owned airline Conviasa continues to operate routes to China (Guangzhou), Russia (Moscow and Saint Petersburg), and Varadero, Cuba, according to its website.
