Trump Says Venezuelan Airspace Should Be Considered Closed

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be “considered closed,” a declaration that heightens tensions with Caracas but does not amount to a formal aviation order.

In a post on social media, Trump wrote: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gill denounced the remarks as a “hostile, unilateral, and arbitrary act” that violates international law. President Nicolás Maduro accused Washington of pursuing “colonial ambitions” in Latin America and warned that such rhetoric could further isolate Venezuelan travelers.

The FAA has previously advised U.S. carriers to avoid Venezuelan airspace due to security risks, military activity, and GPS interference. Several international airlines suspended flights to Caracas earlier this year, prompting Venezuela to revoke their operating rights. Trump’s latest statement adds political pressure but does not carry the legal weight of a formal no‑fly order.

The declaration comes amid a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, where Washington has targeted vessels accused of narcotics trafficking. Trump has suggested that operations may expand to land routes, saying the United States will begin “stopping them by land also.”

Critics, including Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, warned that Trump risks bypassing Congress and international law. Analysts note that enforcing a no‑fly zone would require significant resources and coordination. Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, who oversaw a similar operation in Iraq, said the statement “raises more questions than it answers.”

While Trump’s wording signals a political warning rather than an enforceable ban, the declaration underscores Washington’s hardening stance toward Venezuela