Donald Trump says the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela is to be closed “in its entirety”.
The US president made the announcement on Truth Social amid growing tensions with the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
He wrote: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
It comes after the US aviation regulator warned airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity”.
The South American nation subsequently revoked operating rights for six major airlines that heeded the warning and suspended flights to the country.
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What’s more, Trump told the military this week that land operations against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon”.
The president has accused his Venezuelan counterpart, Maduro, of involvement in drug trafficking, which he denies.
Nicolas Maduro. Pic: Reuters
Maduro, widely considered a dictator, has been president since 2013, and says Trump wants to oust him.
In recent weeks, America’s counter-narcotics operations have seen at least 83 people killed in airstrikes on vessels in the Caribbean Sea.
The first such airstrike was against a Venezuelan vessel and killed all 11 people on board.
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The US military has carried out a fresh strike on what it claims are drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea.
There’s also been a US military buildup in the region, and Trump has authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s communications ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Trump’s post.
The US president has not yet offered more details.
