U.S. President Donald Trump made a declaration on Saturday calling for the airspace above and around Venezuela to be completely closed, sparking concerns about U.S. pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro’s government criticized Trump’s statement as a “colonial threat,” accusing him of undermining the country’s sovereignty.
The White House did not provide clarity on whether Trump’s announcement on his Truth Social platform indicated a new policy or was a reinforcement of his ongoing campaign against Maduro. This campaign has involved multiple operations in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean targeting small boats suspected of drug trafficking, as well as an increased naval presence in the region, resulting in more than 80 fatalities since early September.
In his message, the Republican president directed his call for an aerial blockade to “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” rather than directly addressing Maduro.
Venezuela’s government strongly rejected Trump’s assertion about closing the airspace, labeling it as a “colonial threat” designed to compromise the country’s territorial integrity, aeronautical security, and overall sovereignty. The foreign ministry condemned the declaration as a hostile and unilateral action.
The statement also mentioned that U.S. immigration authorities had halted biweekly deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants without prior consultation. After negotiations between the two governments, over 13,000 Venezuelans have been repatriated to Venezuela this year through chartered flights. This decision led to some international airlines canceling flights to Venezuela following heightened military activity in the region, as advised by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Trump’s administration has intensified pressure on Maduro, disputing his legitimacy as the leader of Venezuela and accusing him of narcoterrorism. The U.S. military has conducted bomber flights near Venezuela, and the USS Gerald R. Ford, the most advanced American aircraft carrier, was deployed to the area, marking a significant buildup of U.S. military presence in the region.
Calls for greater oversight of U.S. military actions in the area have emerged after reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered the killing of all crew members during an attack on suspected drug smugglers on September 2.
Republican Sen. Roger Wicker and Democrat Sen. Jack Reed of the Senate Armed Services Committee issued a joint statement expressing the committee’s commitment to conducting thorough oversight on these matters. The Trump administration has explored various options, both military and non-military, in dealing with Venezuela, including potential covert operations by the CIA.
Despite previous public statements, Trump reportedly had a conversation with Maduro as reported by The New York Times, but the White House declined to comment on the details of the discussion.