Rabat – As tensions rise between the US and Venezuela with threats of full-scale warfare in the near future, US President Donald Trump said today that Venezuelan airspace is virtually closed entirely.
In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Neither the Pentagon nor the US Department of Defense has made a statement confirming or denying the president’s claims.
The statement comes alongside increased US Navy presence in the Caribbean near Venezuela, including the deployment of the US’ largest aircraft carrier in the region, the USS Gerald R. Ford.
US Naval forces have carried out strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean for months.
The White House confirmed this week that further Naval and military operations are in the works, including covert intelligence operations.
Yesterday, the president announced that land operations in Venezuela will begin “very soon.”
Trump’s campaign promise to stop the inflow of drugs and “narco-terrorism” from Venezuela has prompted US military intervention around Venezuela and rhetorical contention between Trump and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuela escalated its response earlier this month by mobilizing 200,000 troops and training nearly 8 million citizens for deployment.
