Venezuela Condemns Trump's Airspace Closure Threat as 'Colonial Threat'

Venezuela on Saturday, November 29, condemned US President Donald Trump’s assertion that the airspace around the country should be considered closed, calling the comments a “colonialist threat” against its sovereignty and “incompatible with international law.”

In its statement, the government said Trump’s post “represents a hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act,” and also argued that the announcement amounts to a unilateral suspension of migrant deportation flights that have recently brought nearly 14,000 Venezuelans back from the United States.

The reaction followed Trump’s Saturday post on Truth Social, where he declared: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” without providing further details. US officials contacted by Reuters were surprised and unaware of any plans or military operations to enforce an airspace closure. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment, and the White House offered no explanation.

Caracas also accused Washington of displaying “colonial ambitions” in Latin America and urged the international community to reject what it described as an immoral act of aggression. Iran, a Venezuelan ally, denounced Trump’s comments as “a serious breach of international law and a threat to global aviation safety,” according to state news agency IRNA. Local residents in Caracas expressed worry that the announcement could disrupt travel, with some saying it would prevent people from visiting family or conducting business.

Trump’s sudden declaration comes as the US ramps up pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s government. David Deptula, a retired lieutenant general who commanded a no-fly zone over northern Iraq, said Trump’s announcement “raises more questions than it answers,” noting that imposing a no-fly zone would require significant planning and resources. “The devil’s in the details,” he said.

The Trump administration has been considering multiple Venezuela-related actions as it asserts Maduro is linked to drug trafficking, which the Venezuelan president denies. Reuters has reported that US options include an attempt to overthrow Maduro, alongside a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela’s coast. Trump has also authorized covert CIA operations in the country.

Maduro, in power since 2013, has argued that Trump is seeking to oust him and insists Venezuelans and the military will resist any such attempt. Earlier this week, Trump told US service members that land operations to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon.”

Inside Venezuela, surveillance has increased in the northeastern state of Sucre following US boat bombings, with security forces and ruling-party groups heightening patrols. Residents and a recent visitor reported growing fear in the area. GPS signals across Venezuela have also been affected in recent weeks amid the US military buildup.

Trump’s remarks followed a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration that airlines face a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to a worsening security environment and heightened military activity. In response, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had already suspended flights after the FAA advisory.

Maduro and senior officials, who frequently appear on state television, have criticized US imperialism in recent comments, though they have avoided mentioning Trump directly — a possible effort to de-escalate, according to security and diplomatic sources. References to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also decreased.