President Donald Trump on Saturday declared the airspace above Venezuela closed.
Trump’s message comes as the United States escalates its military campaign against drug traffickers and cartels in the region.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned major airlines of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela. The FAA cited the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around” the South American country.
In response, Venezuela revoked operating rights for six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the country due to the FAA’s warning.
Trump earlier this week told military service members that the United States would soon begin land operations to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.
“You probably noticed that people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” Trump told troops.
The U.S. military has already been targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels off the coast of Venezuela in a major counter-narcotics operation for months. The Trump administration has carried out at least 21 strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, killing at least 83 people.
Several lawmakers have questioned the transparency and legality of those strikes.
The Trump administration has also accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, a charge he has denied.
Last week, the Trump administration designated Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization, a criminal network that the United States says is headed by Maduro and his government allies.
The Venezuelan regime dismissed the claims and said in response that the cartel doesn’t even exist.
“Venezuela categorically, firmly, and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous fabrication by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, Marco Rubio, which designates the non-existent Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil wrote on his Telegram account.
Even as the United States builds up its military presence, Trump expressed willingness to hear from Maduro directly.
“I might talk to him, we’ll see,” Trump said aboard Air Force One this week. “If we can save lives, if we can do things the easy way, that’s fine.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
