Tensions between Washington and Caracas escalated on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be treated as “entirely closed.” The statement, posted on his Truth Social account, drew sharp condemnation from Nicolás Maduro’s government, which labeled it a “colonial threat” aimed at undermining Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Trump’s post did not clarify whether he was announcing a new U.S. policy or reinforcing the aggressive tone of his ongoing campaign against Maduro. His administration has launched multiple strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific on small boats accused of drug trafficking, resulting in more than 80 deaths since early September. These operations, combined with a buildup of naval forces in the region, mark one of the most visible U.S. military presences near Venezuelan territory in decades.
In his message, Trump directed the “airspace closure” warning to “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” not directly to Maduro himself. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry quickly issued a statement rejecting what it described as a “hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act” that jeopardizes the country’s territorial integrity and aeronautical security.
Rising military and diplomatic strain
Venezuela’s government also accused Washington of escalating hostilities while suspending biweekly deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants. According to flight data, more than 13,000 Venezuelans have been repatriated this year through chartered flights, with the most recent arriving in Caracas on Friday.
The controversy follows the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s recent warning advising pilots to exercise “extreme caution” when flying near Venezuelan airspace due to “worsening security conditions” and increased military activity. Several major airlines, including Avianca, Gol, Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, and LATAM, have since suspended flights to and from Caracas.
The FAA’s authority typically covers U.S. airspace, yet it routinely issues advisories for regions affected by conflict or instability. The agency has coordinated with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding Venezuela, though neither institution has commented publicly on Trump’s latest remarks.
A new phase of confrontation
Trump’s administration has consistently refused to recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president, instead supporting opposition figures and accusing the socialist leader of narcoterrorism. The U.S. military has intensified its posture near Venezuela, deploying bomber aircraft and sending the USS Gerald R. Ford — the largest and most advanced American carrier — as part of “Operation Southern Spear.” The mission reportedly involves nearly a dozen naval vessels and about 12,000 U.S. service members.
Amid concerns about possible overreach, both Republican and Democratic members of the Senate Armed Services Committee announced an investigation into the reported order by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to kill all crew members aboard a vessel attacked on September 2 during an anti-drug operation.
Despite his confrontational rhetoric, Trump has not ruled out dialogue with Maduro. Reports from The New York Times suggest the two leaders recently spoke, though the White House declined to confirm or deny the conversation.