Tensions Rise, Trump Orders Closure Of Airspace Over Venezuela

JAKARTA - President of the United States (US) Donald Trump has stated that he will completely close the airspace above and around Venezuela. This step was taken by the US in line with the increasing tension between the two countries. Trump's statement was delivered through his official social media account, Truth Social on Saturday 29 November.

"To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human trafficking traders. Please consider that the airspace above and around Venezuela will be completely closed," Trump wrote, quoted from Al Jazeera, Sunday, November 30.

Until this news was published, it was reported that there had been no immediate response from the Venezuelan government to Trump's upload. Trump's upload comes amid the increasing rhetoric of senior US officials against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government.

Although the US government has declared this move to fight drug trafficking, experts and human rights observers view the US stance as actually an attempt to overthrow Maduro illegally from power.

Earlier this week Trump also warned he would soon start targeting the war on Venezuelan drug trafficking by ground method. Meanwhile, in a speech broadcast on national television on Thursday (26/11/2025) President Maduro said the Venezuelan people would not be intimidated.

Earlier, on Monday last week six international airlines reportedly decided to suspend their flights to Venezuela after the US warned major airlines of potentially dangerous situations as a result of increased military activity around the South American country.

Based on Al Jazeera reports, the six international airlines are Iberia (Spain), TAP (Portugal), LATAM (Cile), Avianca (Colombia), GoOL (Brazil), and Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago).

According to the President of the Venezuelan Airlines Association, Marisela de Loaiza, the six international airlines have stopped flights to the country since Saturday (11/22/2025).