The Venezuelan government condemned as a “colonialist threat” US President Donald Trump’s order closing all airspace above Venezuela, calling for respect for national sovereignty.
CARACAS, Venezuela — 2025-11-30. The
government of Venezuela has rejected a directive by the United States that
declared Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety,” calling the move an
illegal attempt to undermine the country’s sovereignty.
Airspace closure declaration and
immediate fallout
On 29 November 2025, President Trump
posted on social media that all aircraft — including “Airlines, Pilots, Drug
Dealers, and Human Traffickers” — should regard the airspace above and around
Venezuela as entirely closed.
In response, the Venezuelan government denounced
the declaration as a “colonialist threat” that violated international law and
demanded respect for its sovereignty. Venezuelan authorities said they would
reject any foreign orders or threats concerning their airspace.
As a direct result of the closure order,
all migrant deportation flights to Venezuela have reportedly been suspended — a
move that further escalated tensions between Caracas and Washington.
Wider impact on aviation and
international carriers
The closure announcement built on
earlier turbulence in Venezuela’s aviation sector. On 21 November 2025, the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned major airlines of a “potentially
hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela citing a “worsening security
situation and heightened military activity.”
In reaction, many international carriers
suspended flights to and from the country. Subsequently, on 27 November, the
Venezuelan government revoked the operating permits of six major airlines —
including major carriers from Europe and Latin America — citing their decision
to suspend flights as participation in what it called “state terrorism”
promoted by the United States.
These developments have significantly
disrupted international air travel to Venezuela, leaving only a handful of
foreign and domestic airlines still operating.
Strategic context: escalating
US-Venezuela tensions
The airspace closure directive comes
amid a broader escalation in U.S. pressure on the government of Venezuelan
President Nicolás Maduro. According to U.S. officials, covert operations are
planned against Venezuela, and military deployments in the Caribbean have increased
in recent weeks.
Since September 2025, the U.S. has
carried out several maritime strikes targeting vessels alleged to be involved
in drug trafficking from Venezuelan shores. These operations have reportedly
resulted in dozens of deaths, prompting accusations from Caracas that the U.S.
is engaging in extrajudicial killings.
Venezuela has denied any links to drug
trafficking, and its government argues that the military and diplomatic
pressure aims at destabilizing the country and possibly overthrowing Maduro.
Government reaction and public stance
Venezuelan authorities have publicly
rejected the U.S. order, calling it a threat to national sovereignty and
international norms. The government has vowed not to comply with foreign
directives about control of its airspace.
In addition to suspending deportation
flights, Caracas has warned that any attempts to enforce the closure without
its consent would amount to a breach of aviation and international law. The
reaction underscores Caracas’s demand for respect for Venezuelan territorial integrity.
What comes next amid uncertainty
At present, it remains unclear whether
the U.S. intends to enforce an actual no-fly zone or whether the order is
primarily symbolic. U.S. officials, including the Pentagon, have not provided
further clarification.
International airlines and civil
aviation authorities are monitoring the situation closely, while legal experts
warn that unilateral closure of another nation’s airspace without consent could
be considered a violation of international law.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government has
signalled readiness to defend its sovereignty and has not ruled out further
action if the U.S. escalates. With tensions intensifying, the immediate future
of Venezuelan airspace — and broader regional stability — remains uncertain.
Author: CRN Times Staff - Editor-in-Chief:
Maria Perez
Photo: Cristian Hernandez / AP
(illustrative)