The Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots on Friday “to exercise caution” when flying over Venezuelan airspace, “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity” in or around the South American nation.
The FAA said “threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes,” including during overflight, landing and takeoff, and on the ground at Venezuelan airports, and that its notice was effective until Feb. 19.
The FAA’s message was issued days after President Donald Trump said he would not rule out the possibility of sending U.S. troops into Venezuela. The United States has amassed a large naval presence off Venezuela’s coast that includes the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. Over the past two months, it has conducted strikes on boats in the region that Trump officials have alleged are trafficking drugs.
The administration has not presented proof that the ships were involved in drug trafficking, and Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s strongman president — whom the U.S. does not recognize as its legitimate leader — has denied that they were.
Trump has accused Maduro and his advisers of leading a narcotics organization, the Cartel de los Soles, and sending drugs and violent criminals to the U.S.
Venezuela has alerted its military and said that it would deploy a force of nearly 200,000 troops in response. It has separately reached out to Moscow, Beijing and Tehran to solicit assistance.
When asked about the warning, the Defense Department referred questions to the FAA, which could not be immediately reached for comment late Friday.
On the same day, the FAA also issued a warning to pilots flying in or near San Juan, Puerto Rico, advising them to “exercise extreme caution” in the area “due to an increase in state aircraft operations.”
The Trump administration has sought to revive a mothballed naval base there as it moves to establish a more permanent military presence in the region. The base in Puerto Rico is now housing F-35 fighter jets, The Washington Post reported.
The FAA warnings, known as Notice to Airmen, or NOTAMs, have previously been released for potentially dangerous airspace in times of conflict. In March, the agency released a notice that restricted flights over parts of Haiti, which has been overrun by armed gangs. That directive was extended in September.
The FAA also released a similar notice for Mali in February as fighting between the military government, backed by Russian mercenaries, and rebel forces intensified, resulting in bombings and the alleged killings of innocent civilians.
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