Trump Declares Venezuelan Airspace ‘Completely Closed’ Amid Rising Tensions

US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that all airspace over and around Venezuela should be treated as entirely off-limits, marking a new escalation in Washington’s standoff with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, 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.”

He offered no further details about the declaration.

The warning comes as the US intensifies pressure on the Maduro government, deploying significant military assets to the Caribbean — including the world’s largest aircraft carrier. While Washington says the mission is aimed at curbing drug trafficking, Caracas maintains that the true objective is regime change.

Since early September, US forces have struck more than 20 alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, leaving over 80 people dead. Washington has not yet provided evidence that the targeted boats were involved in drug operations or posed any threat to the US.

The heightened military activity has increased regional tensions. Last week, US aviation authorities urged civilian aircraft flying in Venezuelan airspace to “exercise caution” due to a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity.”

Following that advisory, six major airlines suspended flights to Venezuela — Iberia, TAP, Avianca, LATAM, GOL, and Turkish Airlines. The Maduro government reacted angrily, banning all six carriers for allegedly “joining the actions of state terrorism promoted by the United States government.”

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported on Friday that Trump and Maduro had spoken by phone the previous week, discussing the possibility of a future meeting in the US. The revelation came a day after Trump signaled that efforts to block Venezuelan drug trafficking by land were imminent, further intensifying the diplomatic strain.

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