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President-elect Donald Trump has declared the airspace "above and surrounding Venezuela" as "closed in its entirety," a significant escalation in his pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. The announcement, made via a post on Truth Social, directs commercial airlines to avoid the region, aiming to force the Venezuelan government to resume accepting deportation flights of its nationals from the United States.
The move follows the breakdown of a repatriation agreement initiated under the Biden administration. That deal saw Venezuela accept deportation flights until the U.S. reimposed oil sanctions earlier this year in response to Maduro's government barring a key opposition candidate from the presidential election. In retaliation, Caracas halted the repatriation flights, a situation Trump is seeking to reverse as he prepares to implement his administration's hardline immigration policies. The new pressure campaign aims to restart these migrant deportation flights ahead of his inauguration.
The Venezuelan government swiftly condemned Trump's statement. Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez described the declaration on social media as "an act of lunacy" and an "arrogant" threat to international civil aviation and peace. This sharp rebuke from Caracas highlights the growing tensions between the two nations, with Maduro's administration accusing Trump of violating international treaties that govern air travel.
While the language is stark, U.S. officials have clarified that Trump's declaration is not a formal military no-fly zone, which would require congressional approval and military enforcement. Instead, it serves as a strong advisory to the aviation industry. However, the directive is expected to be taken seriously by commercial carriers, who may reroute flights to avoid potential risks, leading to longer flight times and increased operational costs for travel in the region. The instruction to consider the airspace closed is a powerful economic and diplomatic tool intended to isolate the Maduro regime without immediate military engagement.
