Venezuela Defies Trump’s Airspace Closure Demand Amid Rising Tensions

Venezuela’s government has firmly rejected a call from President Donald Trump to close its airspace, stating that it will remain open despite escalating tensions between the two nations. The announcement was made on Saturday, following Trump’s assertion that the airspace above Venezuela should be “closed in its entirety” due to a U.S. military campaign against alleged drug cartels operating in the Caribbean.

In a statement, Yvan Gil, Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, condemned Trump’s remarks as a “colonialist threat” and described them as “incompatible with the most fundamental principles of International Law.” He further criticized the U.S. government’s recent decision to suspend biweekly migrant flights to Venezuela, which he linked to these escalating diplomatic tensions.

Trump’s declaration, which he shared on his social media platform Truth Social, instructed “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers” to regard Venezuelan airspace as closed. This statement comes shortly after Trump warned that the U.S. would initiate a military campaign against drug cartels in Venezuela “very soon.” In recent months, U.S. forces have targeted alleged drug-trafficking vessels off the Venezuelan coast, resulting in numerous casualties and raising questions about the administration’s authority to conduct such operations.

International Airlines and Suspension of Flights

In response to the heightened military activity, the Venezuelan government announced on Wednesday that it would ban six international airlines for allegedly participating in “state terrorism” promoted by the U.S. government. This decision followed a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which indicated a “potentially hazardous situation” due to increased military operations in the region.

The diplomatic landscape further complicates matters, with reports indicating that Trump had a phone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last week. They discussed the possibility of a meeting in the U.S., a significant development as no sitting U.S. president has ever formally met with Maduro.

The situation remains fluid, with both nations at a crossroads. As Venezuela maintains its position and denounces U.S. interventions, the implications for international relations in the region continue to unfold. The ongoing military actions and diplomatic exchanges will likely shape the future of U.S.-Venezuela relations in the coming months.