UPDATE: The Venezuelan government has fiercely condemned President Donald Trump’s recent call to close the airspace above Venezuela, labeling it a “colonialist threat” to its sovereignty. In a post on Truth Social just yesterday, Trump requested, “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
Venezuela’s response came quickly, asserting that Trump’s comments violate international law. An official statement declared, “No authority outside the Venezuelan institutional framework has the power to interfere with, block, or condition the use of international airspace.” As of Sunday afternoon, data from Flightradar24 indicates that air traffic continues to operate normally in Venezuelan airspace, despite Trump’s alarming directive.
This escalating tension follows a series of military operations in the Caribbean. Reports have surfaced that the Senate and House Armed Services Committees will investigate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a Washington Post article revealed an order to target drug-smuggling boats. As part of Operation Southern Spear, the military has conducted at least 21 strikes, resulting in the deaths of at least 82 individuals linked to alleged drug trafficking.
Venezuela’s government characterized Trump’s statements as an “explicit use of force,” violating Article 2, paragraph 4 of the U.N. Charter. Meanwhile, criticism of the military’s actions has emerged from both sides of the aisle in Congress. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, suggested on ABC’s This Week that the military’s actions could potentially be classified as a “war crime,” emphasizing the lack of transparency regarding evidence for the strikes. “They’ve never presented the public with the information they’ve got here,” he stated, warning, “But it could be worse than that, right? If that theory is wrong, then it’s plain murder.”
Conversely, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt defended Trump’s position, asserting he is acting “well within his Article 2 powers” to combat drug smuggling. Schmitt stated the strategy aims to disrupt the supply chain from China and dismantle the cartels responsible for distributing drugs in the United States.
Frustration is palpable in Congress as both parties express concerns over Trump’s unilateral approach to Venezuela. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced his worries on X, stating, “Trump’s reckless actions towards Venezuela are pushing America closer and closer to another costly foreign war,” shortly after Trump’s airspace comments.
Notably, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a previous ally of Trump, reminded the public on Saturday that “Congress has the sole power to declare war.” As tensions mount, all eyes are on the unfolding situation, with significant implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations.
As developments continue to unfold, both international observers and airline operators are closely monitoring the situation. The urgency of these geopolitical tensions highlights the critical need for diplomatic dialogue in the face of escalating military actions and inflammatory rhetoric.
