U.S. President Donald Trump has heightened Washington’s standoff with Venezuela by declaring that the skies around the South American nation should now be treated as completely off-limits to all unauthorized parties.
In a direct and aggressive post addressed to “all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” Trump warned on Saturday:
“THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA [IS] CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Caracas has not yet issued any official reaction to the message.
Campaign Against Drug Trafficking
Trump’s announcement comes as the United States expands its campaign against what it claims are Venezuela-linked drug operations. Over recent months, American forces have launched multiple lethal strikes on vessels they identified as trafficking hubs, actions that have left dozens dead.
The escalation is rooted in the administration’s efforts to target suspected drug traffickers. Trump added on Thursday that the US could “very soon” shift its focus to suspected drug traffickers operating inside Venezuelan territory.
Political and Diplomatic Fallout
The U.S. operations have drawn heavy criticism. UN experts have criticized the actions, calling them extrajudicial killings. Furthermore, the fallout pushed the United Kingdom to halt intelligence cooperation with Washington over concerns it would be aiding activities it considers outside the agreed boundaries of their intelligence partnership.
Analysts argue that Washington’s justification of a drug war may be laying the groundwork for a broader effort to force President Nicolas Maduro from power—a leader Trump has long treated as an adversary.
The U.S. administration doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest in August, labeling him “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.” The bounty, which once stood at $25 million, has now been raised to $50 million.
President Nicolas Maduro has previously dismissed the threats, insisting that Venezuela would not be cowed by U.S. pressure.
Source: ABC News
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