US warns airlines of dangerous flights over Venezuela amid worsening security and military activity
Donald Trump is putting more and more pressure on the Venezuelan government. Photo: PHOTO: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the airspace over and around Venezuela would be closed in its entirety.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said: “To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers, consider the AIR SPACE OVER AND AROUND VENEZUELA CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Last week, the US aviation regulator warned major airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to a “deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around the country.”
Venezuela has revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the country following a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration.
Read more: Trump pledges to freeze immigration from all ‘Third World countries’
Reports of imminent action have multiplied in recent weeks as the US military has deployed forces in the Caribbean amid worsening relations with Venezuela. Two of the US officials said the covert operations would likely be the first part of new action against Maduro.
Two US officials said options under consideration included an attempt to oust Maduro, who has been in power since 2013. He has argued that Trump is seeking to oust him and that Venezuela’s citizens and military would resist any such attempt.
A military buildup in the Caribbean has been underway for months, and Trump has authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela. The US Federal Aviation Administration on Friday warned major airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela. Three international airlines canceled flights departing from Venezuela on Saturday following the FAA warning.
a href=”https://tribune.com.pk/story/2579715/trump-says-airspace-above-and-surrounding-venezuela-to-be-closed-in-its-entirety”>Source link
