President Donald Trump on Saturday warned airlines to consider airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela to be closed.
In a post on 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.”
The US has repeatedly threatened military action against Venezuela in recent weeks, as tensions between Trump and Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro have mounted over alleged drug trafficking networks in the South American nation. Caracas has maintained that the US’s real goal is to overthrow the government.
Speaking to service members on Thursday, Trump praised the military’s work tackling suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers at sea, adding that the US would begin land action “very soon.”
The Federal Aviation Administration had last week warned carriers of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela.
The agency said the “worsening security situation” and “heightened military activity” around the country could present risks to aircraft.
Business Insider has contacted the White House and the Pentagon for comment.
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