Trump demands Venezuelan airspace to be shut down

President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced the closure of all airspace over and surrounding Venezuela on Saturday, intensifying tensions with Venezuelan leader Nicols Maduro. The White House accuses Maduro of collaborating with narco-terrorist groups to facilitate drug trafficking.

Trump addressed the announcement directly on Truth Social, stating: To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.

Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a security notice advising airlines and pilots to steer clear of Venezuelan airspace due to a worsening security situation, heightened military presence, and possible GPS disruptions. Following this, Venezuela suspended the operating rights of six major international airlines that had halted flights after the FAA warning.

Trumps directive surpasses the FAAs previous guidance, signaling that the U.S. now regards Venezuelan airspace as a direct security threat rather than a zone with elevated flight risk.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gill condemned the action, describing it as a hostile, unilateral, and arbitrary act forbidden under the United Nations Charter. He added, Venezuela denounces and condemns the colonialist threat that seeks to affect the sovereignty of its airspace, constituting a new, extravagant, illegal, and unjustified act of aggression against the people of Venezuela.

The White House has not provided a comment on the matter. Trump, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been pursuing a pressure campaign aimed at ousting Maduro, which includes the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean and targeted strikes on vessels suspected of transporting drugs.

The strikes on suspected drug shipments have drawn international criticism. Lawmakers from both parties express concern that Trump is expanding executive power and potentially breaching international law. Last month, the U.N. Human Rights Commissioner labeled the strikes unacceptable, echoing congressional worries.

This week, Trump indicated that further military measures against drug traffickers in Venezuela may be imminent. People aren't wanting to be delivering by sea, he said at the White House Thursday. And we'll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier. But that's going to start very soon. We warn them. Stop sending poison to our country.

Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned that Trump could be bypassing federal law, noting that Congress has not authorized the use of force against Venezuela. Americans are tired of endless foreign wars that cost the lives of countless American servicemembers and drain precious resources," he said. "This is not an America First policy. We need Republicans and Democrats in Congress to come together to return the power to declare war back to the people.

Author: Sophia Brooks