Alexandar Sullivan:
The United States intensified its confrontation with Venezuela after President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that airlines, pilots and criminal networks should treat Venezuelan airspace as “closed in its entirety.” The directive, shared on Truth Social, marks the latest escalation in Washington’s broader campaign to pressure President Nicolás Maduro and disrupt illicit drug and migration routes.
Venezuela’s foreign minister condemned the declaration as a “colonialist threat” and an “extravagant, illegal, and unjustified aggression.” The U.S. lacks the authority to shut another nation’s airspace, but recent FAA alerts have urged carriers to use caution, even as some American airlines continue overflights en route to South America.
Trump’s warning comes as the administration expands its operational posture in the region. The president recently acknowledged approving CIA activity inside Venezuela and designated Maduro officials as part of a foreign terrorist organization, a step that broadens military options. The Pentagon has also deployed more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops under Operation Southern Spear, which has already resulted in several deadly maritime confrontations.
Maduro, seeking to project control, urged troops to remain vigilant, insisting Venezuela is “a republic in arms.” On the ground in Caracas, residents expressed a mix of anxiety and resignation, noting that threats of U.S. action circulate quietly while daily life continues publicly.
With diplomatic channels largely frozen, the standoff shows no sign of easing, leaving both nations on edge as tensions continue to rise.
For more blogs, visit nyn.press
