Caracas Labels Threat Illegal and Aggressive
Venezuela sharply criticized Donald Trump after he declared the country’s airspace should be considered closed. The foreign ministry called his statement “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people”. Officials said the United States holds no authority to close another nation’s airspace and accused Trump of issuing a “colonialist threat”. The US has strengthened its military presence in the region and carried out at least 21 strikes on boats it claimed transported drugs, killing more than 80 people. Washington has provided no evidence. President Nicolás Maduro says the actions aim to remove him from power. Trump posted on Truth Social that pilots, airlines, traffickers, and smugglers should “consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety”. The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment from an international news outlet.
Congress Criticizes Trump’s Escalation
Trump’s comments drew strong reactions from lawmakers. Several Democrats and Republicans said he bypassed constitutional procedures. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer warned that Trump’s “reckless actions” push the US toward “another costly foreign war”. He stressed that only Congress can declare war. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a close Trump ally, echoed the warning that Congress has sole war-declaring authority.
Airlines Suspend Flights Amid Military Alerts
The US Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines of “heightened military activity in and around Venezuela”. Several major carriers suspended flights soon after. Caracas then revoked their take-off and landing rights. Venezuela’s foreign ministry called on governments, the UN, and international bodies to condemn what it described as an “immoral act of aggression”. On the same day, Venezuela’s military conducted coastal drills. State TV broadcast images of anti-aircraft systems and heavy artillery being mobilized along the coast.
US Deployment Raises Regional Tension
The US deployed the USS Gerald Ford and approximately 15,000 troops near Venezuela. Washington says the deployment targets drug trafficking. It marks the largest US presence in the region since the 1989 Panama invasion. Trump warned that operations to halt Venezuelan drug trafficking “by land” would begin “very soon”. Venezuelan authorities argue the US intends to topple Maduro, whose re-election faced widespread international criticism. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the US uses “violence to dominate” Latin America, though other regional leaders welcomed Trump’s stance.
Terrorist Designation Deepens Dispute
The US designated Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organisation and alleged Maduro leads the group. The label grants American authorities broader powers to dismantle it. Venezuela’s foreign ministry “categorically, firmly, and absolutely” rejected the designation, calling it another hostile act.
