The Venezuelan government has launched a fierce condemnation of former US President Donald Trump, labelling his declaration to close the nation's airspace a 'colonial threat' and an act of 'illegal, and unjustified aggression'.
The diplomatic row erupted after Mr Trump used his Truth Social platform to issue a stark warning. He stated that 'the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela' should be considered closed 'in its entirety', specifically addressing 'Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers'.
Escalating Tensions Over Drug Trafficking Claims
This dramatic announcement, made on Saturday 29th November 2025, intensifies an ongoing dispute centred on allegations of drug trafficking. The United States, through its Operation Southern Spear naval deployment, has already attacked at least 21 vessels it claims are carrying drugs from Venezuela.
Venezuela asserts that these maritime strikes have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people, accusations they describe as murder. While the US has released videos of boats being targeted, it has not publicly provided corroborating evidence such as photos of drug cargoes.
Just days before his airspace declaration, President Trump warned that land operations against suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would commence 'very soon', signalling a potential major escalation in the conflict.
Venezuela's Furious Response and Sovereignty Concerns
Venezuela's foreign affairs office responded with fury, accusing the US President of threatening 'the sovereignty of the national airspace... and the full sovereignty of the Venezuelan state'.
The office framed Mr Trump's words as part of a 'permanent policy of aggression against our country' that flagrantly breaches international law and the United Nations Charter. Venezuelan officials have also suggested that access to the country's plentiful oil reserves is a primary motivation behind the US actions.
President Nicolas Maduro, who is widely considered a dictator by Western nations, has vehemently denied any personal involvement in the drugs trade. He insists that President Trump's ultimate goal is to oust him from power to install a more sympathetic government in Caracas.
Aviation Chaos and Justifications
The situation for air travel over Venezuela was already deteriorating. Prior to Mr Trump's post, the American aviation regulator had warned of a 'potentially hazardous situation' over the country due to a 'worsening security situation'.
Furthermore, the South American nation itself had revoked the operating rights for six major airlines, leading those carriers to suspend their flights to Venezuela.
The Pentagon has sought to justify its military strikes by categorising the targeted drug gangs as 'foreign terrorist organisations', placing them on a par with groups like al Qaeda. While the US claims the intercepted boats carry drugs bound for its shores, analysis suggests the final destination for most of the cargo is likely to be Europe and West Africa.
As of the latest reports, the Pentagon and the White House have not provided any additional detail or clarification on the president's statement, leaving the international community awaiting the next move in this high-stakes confrontation.
