Trump declares closure of airspace over Venezuela

"To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety," the president wrote on Truth Social.

A closure of the airspace, or a no-fly zone, is a ban on all flights over a designated area, including military aircraft and helicopters.

In the context of rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela, Trump's statement could indicate preparations for potential air operations over the South American country.

US-Venezuela tensions

Trump said the United States would very soon take steps to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on land.

According to the New York Times, he held a phone call last week with Venezuela's president to discuss a possible meeting.

Reuters previously reported that the Trump administration planned to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days. Reporters could not confirm the timing or scale of those operations, nor whether Trump had made a final decision to proceed.

Earlier, Trump ordered the deployment of Operation Southern Spear in the Western Hemisphere, effectively near Venezuela.

Since returning to office in 2025, the US president has said that one of his priorities is combating narcotics, including fentanyl. He has designated Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as the chief "drug kingpin."