President Donald Trump declared Saturday that the airspace above Venezuela should be considered closed to airline traffic amid high tensions with that country’s leader Nicolas Maduro over drug trafficking.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump wrote in his Truth Social platform. “Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump’s declaration came as his national security team weighs possible additional military action to stop Venezuelan drug traffickers beyond air strikes on narco-trafficking boats in international waters. It also comes after the FAA issued a notice urging airlines to avoid the region.
“Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela,” a recent FAA notice warned.
Trump told military troops on Thanksgiving thathe would soon be taking action to stop Venezuelan drug trafficking by land after the success of air strikes on boats.
