U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday escalated his confrontation with Venezuela, declaring the airspace “above and surrounding Venezuela” closed and warning pilots, airlines, and illicit traffickers to stay away. The unilateral announcement—made on Trump’s Truth Social platform—adds volatile pressure to already strained relations between Washington and Nicolás Maduro’s government.
“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 on Saturday morning.
While the U.S. cannot legally close another country’s sovereign airspace, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can and already has the authority to restrict U.S. carriers from flying over designated regions. American airlines have not flown to Venezuela for years due to safety and political instability.
Venezuela’s government did not issue an immediate response.
Warning Signals of a Larger Confrontation
Trump’s declaration comes amid a sharp spike in U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and intensifying pressure campaigns targeting the Maduro regime. Earlier in the week, the President hinted that ground operations against Venezuelan drug cartels might begin “very soon.”
“The land is easier. That’s going to start very soon,” Trump said during Thanksgiving remarks at Mar-a-Lago.
“We warned them, stop sending poison into our country.”
Behind the scenes, Trump reportedly held a tense phone call with Maduro last week. According to individuals familiar with the conversation:
Maduro demanded general amnesty for himself, key aides, and their families—many under U.S. sanctions or indictments.
Trump responded that if Maduro did not leave voluntarily, the U.S. would consider other options, including force.
The New York Times previously reported the existence of the call.
FAA Issues Hazard Advisory to Pilots
Although Trump’s social-media declaration holds no legal enforcement internationally, the FAA has already issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) effective until February, warning U.S. pilots of:
“Worsening security conditions”
Heightened military activity
Increased operational risk in Venezuelan airspace
As a result, several international airlines have suspended flights, prompting Caracas to withdraw operating permissions for six major carriers.
U.S. Military Footprint Expands Across the Caribbean
The United States has significantly escalated its regional military presence over recent months, turning the Caribbean into one of the most active U.S. operational zones outside the Middle East.
Confirmations and Indications Include:
• Simulated U.S. Airstrikes Near Venezuela
Flight-tracking platforms and defense officials confirm U.S. fighter jets and bombers have conducted mock attack runs near Venezuelan territory.
• New Regional Bases and Overflight Support
The Dominican Republic authorized the U.S. military to refuel aircraft and move equipment on restricted sites to support anti-narcotics missions.
The U.S. is installing an advanced radar system on the island of Tobago, mere miles from the Venezuelan coastline.
U.S. Marines and engineers are assisting with runway and airport upgrades.
• Carrier Strike Group Deployment
The U.S. has deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s most advanced aircraft carrier, along with Navy destroyers, F-35B fighter jets, and MQ-9 Reaper drones.
• St. Croix and Puerto Rico
Additional air operations have been carried out from U.S. territories, giving Washington direct reach across Venezuela’s border zone.
• Anti-Drug Maritime Strikes
Since September, the U.S. has conducted 20+ lethal strikes on alleged narcotics vessels, killing over 80 people.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled a continued offensive:
“We have only just begun to kill narco-terrorists.”
Washington’s Strategic Messaging to Maduro
The Trump administration has long declared Nicolás Maduro an illegitimate leader, accusing him of:
Rigging elections
Running a narco-trafficking network
Engaging in severe human rights violations
The latest moves—airspace warnings, expanded military posture, and high-level ultimatums—indicate the U.S. is pressuring Maduro toward either forced negotiation or forced exit.
U.S. Southern Command stated:
“The enhanced U.S. force posture will bolster our capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors… that threaten U.S. security in the Western Hemisphere.”
Caracas Remains Silent But Under Pressure
While Venezuela did not immediately respond to Trump’s statement, Maduro’s government has historically condemned U.S. surveillance flights and military encirclement as violations of sovereignty and precursors to regime-change operations.
Regional analysts note that the next steps—whether diplomatic, coercive, or military—may unfold rapidly.
This is a developing geopolitical flashpoint with potentially far-reaching implications for Latin American stability, U.S. foreign policy, and global energy markets.