Caracas Condemns “Illegal Aggression”
Venezuela strongly criticized Donald Trump after he declared its airspace should be treated as closed. The foreign ministry called it “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people”. Officials said the United States has no authority to restrict another nation’s airspace. They accused Trump of issuing a “colonialist threat”. The US has expanded its military presence near Venezuela and carried out at least 21 strikes on boats it alleged carried drugs, killing more than 80 people. Washington provided no evidence. President Nicolás Maduro said the operations aim to remove him from power. Trump posted on Truth Social that airlines, pilots, traffickers, and smugglers should “consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety”. The White House did not immediately respond to an international news request.
Congress Criticizes Trump’s Actions
Lawmakers from both parties criticized Trump’s remarks. Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said Trump’s “reckless actions” push the US toward “another costly foreign war” and stressed that only Congress can declare war. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, formerly a close Trump ally, echoed the warning, emphasizing that Congress holds sole authority to declare war.
Flights Suspended Amid Rising Tensions
The US Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines about “heightened military activity in and around Venezuela”. Several major carriers suspended flights. Caracas then revoked their take-off and landing rights. Venezuela’s foreign ministry urged governments, the UN, and international organisations to reject what it described as an “immoral act of aggression”. On the same day, the Venezuelan military conducted coastal drills. State TV showed anti-aircraft weapons and heavy artillery moving into position.
US Military Deployment Increases Pressure
The US deployed the USS Gerald Ford and around 15,000 troops near Venezuelan waters. Officials said the move targets drug trafficking. It marks the largest US presence in the region since the 1989 Panama invasion. Trump warned that operations to stop Venezuelan drug trafficking “by land” would begin “very soon”. Venezuelan leaders said Washington seeks to topple Maduro, whose re-election faced widespread international criticism. Colombian President Gustavo Petro said the US uses “violence to dominate” Latin America, while other regional leaders welcomed Trump’s stance.
Terrorist Designation Worsens Diplomatic Rift
The US designated Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organisation, alleging Maduro leads the group. The label gives American authorities broader powers to dismantle it. Venezuela’s foreign ministry “categorically, firmly, and absolutely” rejected the designation, calling it another hostile act.
