Trump Says Consider Airspace Above And Around Venezuela To Be Closed ‘In Its Entirety’

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered “totally closed” but did not provide further details, causing growing concern and confusion in Caracas as Washington ramps up pressure on the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

“All Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers and Human Traffickers, please consider a COMPLETE LOCKDOWN OF THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA,” Trump said in the Truth Social post.

U.S. officials contacted by Reuters were surprised by Trump’s statement and were unaware of ongoing U.S. military operations to close Venezuelan airspace. The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment and the White House had no further statement.

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, the Venezuelan government condemned Trump’s comments, calling them a “colonial threat” to the country’s sovereignty and saying they were incompatible with international law.

Retired lieutenant general David Deptula, who commanded the no-fly zone in northern Iraq in 1998 and 1999, said Trump’s statement raises more questions than it answers. He said enforcing a no-fly zone over Venezuela could require significant resources and planning, depending on the goals of closing the airspace.

“The devil is in the details,” Deptula said.

The Trump administration is weighing options on Venezuela to combat what it portrays as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that are killing Americans. The socialist Venezuelan president has denied any connection with the illegal drug trade.

Reuters reported that an attempt to overthrow Maduro was among the options considered by the United States. The US military is preparing for a new phase of operations It follows a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of attacks on suspected drug boats off the coast of Venezuela. Trump also authorized covert CIA operations in the South American country.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has claimed that Trump is trying to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist such an attempt.

Trump told military service members earlier this week that the United States would do so “very soon.” begin ground operations To stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.

People of Caracas who spoke to Reuters criticized Trump’s statement.

“I think it’s unfair because people need to travel to work, to do business, to see their families, and in these situations we Venezuelans are not at fault,” said Manuel Romero, who works as a sous chef.

Lawyer Carmen Castillo said she is concerned that many people who were going to visit family outside of Venezuela for holidays will no longer be able to do so.

“We are imprisoned here in Caracas, in Venezuela, of course it affects us,” he said.

According to security and diplomatic sources, Maduro and senior officials in his government (some combination of whom appear on state television almost daily) have condemned U.S. imperialism in recent comments but are not singling out Trump by name as the Venezuelan government may be trying to de-escalate tensions. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously been the focus of the Venezuelan government’s ire, but even references to him have faded in recent weeks.

The U.S. boat bombings have led authorities in the remote northeastern state of Sucre to step up surveillance, with increased patrols by security agencies and ruling party supporters creating fear among locals, four residents and a recent visitor said.

GPS signals in Venezuela have also been affected by US reinforcements in recent weeks.

Trump’s announcement regarding Venezuelan airspace follows last week’s warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration that major airlines face a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela due to the “deteriorating security situation and increased military activities in or around the country.”

Venezuelan revoked operating rights For six major international airlines that suspended flights to the country following the FAA warning.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru and Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Lucia Mutikani in Washington; Editing by Kirsten Donovan, Sergio Non, Alexander Smith and Paul Simao)