Trump says the airspace over and around Venezuela should be considered closed

• US officials are not aware of any military plans to enforce an airspace closure.
• Trump’s announcement raises questions, former US military says.
• Venezuela revokes operating rights of six major airlines.

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the airspace over and around Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety”, but did not elaborate as Washington stepped up pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

“To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers, please consider the AIR SPACE OVER AND AROUND VENEZUELA CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

He contacted American officials Reuters were surprised by Trump’s announcement and were unaware of any ongoing US military operations to force a closure of Venezuelan airspace. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment and the White House offered no further explanation.

Venezuela’s communications ministry, which handles all press inquiries for the government, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s post.

Massive military buildup in the Caribbean

David Deptula, a retired lieutenant general who commanded a no-fly zone over northern Iraq in 1998 and 1999, said Trump’s announcement raises more questions than it answers. Enforcing a no-fly zone over Venezuela could require significant resources and planning, depending on the goals of closing the airspace, he said.

“The devil is in the details,” Deptoula said.

The Trump administration is considering options related to Venezuela to combat Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. Venezuela’s socialist president has denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Reuters reported that options being considered by the US included trying to oust Maduro and that the US military was ready for a new phase of operations after a massive military build-up in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug vessels off Venezuela. Trump has also authorized covert CIA operations in the South American country.

Maduro, in power since 2013, claims that Trump is seeking to oust him and that the Venezuelan people and the military will resist any such attempt.

Trump told members of the military earlier this week that the US would launch “very soon” ground operations to stop suspected drug traffickers from Venezuela.

The streets of Caracas were largely quiet on Saturday morning, although some people braved the rain to go shopping.

Maduro and senior government officials, a combination of whom appear almost daily on state television, have criticized U.S. imperialism in recent comments but stopped short of singling out Trump by name as Venezuela’s government may seek to de-escalate tensions, according to security and diplomatic sources. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously been at the center of the Venezuelan government’s ire, but even references to him have dwindled in recent weeks.

The U.S. boat bombings have prompted increased surveillance by authorities in the remote northeastern state of Sucre, with increased patrols by security agencies and supporters of the ruling party instilling fear among locals, four residents and a recent visitor said.

GPS signals in Venezuela have also been affected in recent weeks amid the US buildup.

Trump’s announcement about Venezuelan airspace followed a warning last week from the US Federal Aviation Administration that major airlines faced 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 the FAA warning.