Washington, November 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the airspace above and around Venezuela should be regarded as “closed in its entirety,” a statement that triggered uncertainty in Washington and alarm in Caracas, amid escalating U.S. pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government.
In a post on Truth Social, 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.”
The message offered no clarification or accompanying policy directive.
According to Reuters, U.S. officials were caught off guard by the announcement and said they were unaware of any military operations underway to enforce such a closure. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment, and the White House offered no further explanation.
Caracas Condemns “Hostile and Colonialist” Statement
Venezuela’s government issued a swift and forceful response, condemning Trump’s remarks as a “colonialist threat” against national sovereignty and a violation of international law.
The statement said the U.S. president’s post “represents a hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act, incompatible with the principles of international law,” and accused Washington of demonstrating “colonial ambitions” in Latin America. The government urged the international community to reject what it described as an immoral act of aggression.
Iran, a close ally of Caracas, also denounced the statement, calling it “a serious breach of international law and a threat to global aviation safety,” according to state media.
Analysts Question Feasibility of No-Fly Zone
David Deptula, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general who oversaw a no-fly zone over Iraq in the 1990s, said Trump’s declaration raises major logistical questions.
“The devil’s in the details,” he noted, emphasizing that imposing a no-fly zone over Venezuela would require significant planning, resources, and clear strategic objectives.
U.S.–Venezuela Tensions Escalate
Trump’s remarks come amid an intensifying U.S. campaign targeting Maduro’s government, which Washington has accused of facilitating illegal drug trafficking — allegations Caracas has repeatedly denied.
Recent U.S. actions include:
- A military buildup in the Caribbean
- Nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela’s coast
- Authorization of covert CIA operations inside Venezuela
- Plans for land operations to combat alleged drug trafficking, as Trump signaled earlier this week
Reports have also indicated that U.S. officials have considered scenarios involving efforts to remove Maduro from power.
The Venezuelan government stated that Trump’s announcement effectively suspends deportation flights that have repatriated nearly 14,000 Venezuelans from the United States in recent months.
Public Concerns in Caracas
Residents of the Venezuelan capital expressed concern about the impact of Trump’s statement.
“It’s unfair because people need to travel to work, to do business, to see their family,” said Manuel Romero, a kitchen assistant.
Lawyer Carmen Castillo noted that families could now be separated over the holidays: “We’re confined here. Of course it affects us.”
Heightened Security and Disruptions Inside Venezuela
Following recent U.S. military activities, residents in Venezuela’s northeastern Sucre state reported increased security patrols, raising fears of further instability.
Meanwhile, GPS disruptions have affected parts of the country, coinciding with heightened U.S. surveillance efforts.
Aviation Warnings and Airline Suspensions
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration last week issued a warning to major airlines about a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to heightened military activity.
In response, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international carriers that suspended flights after the FAA alert.
As of Saturday evening, Trump’s statement remained unclarified, leaving governments, airlines, and international agencies uncertain about whether the United States intends to enforce the purported airspace closure or pursue broader military action in the region.
