The President of the United States announced through social media that Venezuelan airspace must be considered closed to all aircraft
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Amid growing military escalation in the Caribbean, United States President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that Venezuela's airspace must be considered "completely closed", a sign of a strong hardening of the American stance against the narco-terrorist regime of Nicolás Maduro. The warning was published on his Truth Social network and is directed at airlines, pilots, and criminal organizations operating in the region.
The president's message comes as American forces maintain a broad deployment in the Caribbean, which includes the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, more than a dozen warships, fighter jets, and about 12,000 troops.
In recent months, these units have carried out 21 attacks against vessels linked to drug trafficking, with more than 80 fatalities, as part of an offensive aimed at dismantling criminal networks that Washington directly links to the Venezuelan government.
Trump habría mantenido una conversación telefónica con Maduro en la cual lo habría instado a abandonar el poder
Trump had previously indicated that operations could be expanded to Venezuelan territory and stated that actions "will begin very soon", fueling speculation about a possible increase in American intervention.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already warned airlines about the "deterioration" of security and the increase in military activity in Venezuela, recommending extreme caution when flying over the country.
This Saturday's warning became known hours after the New York Times reported that Trump held a phone conversation with Maduro last week, in which Secretary of StateMarco Rubio participated.
According to some sources, the dialogue mentioned the possibility of a meeting between both leaders, although the American administration ruled out any concession that would allow Chavismo to buy time.
El secretario de Estado, Marco Rubio, participó de la llamada por su redundancia
According to the same sources, Trump reiterated to the Venezuelan president that the United States will increase military and political pressure to force his immediate departure from power, along with that of the main figures of the regime, including Diosdado Cabello, Vladimir Padrino López, and siblings Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez.
The administration had previously considered transition alternatives that would temporarily leave Chavismo figures in the country, but those options were reportedly discarded.
The hardening of the American stance coincides with the State Department's decision to designate the Cartel de los Soles, which Washington identifies as led by Maduro, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
The measure expands the legal framework to impose sanctions, freeze assets, and prosecute collaborators of the Venezuelan regime, in addition to opening the door to more aggressive operations against structures linked to drug trafficking.
Trump busca la salida de figuras clave del chavismo como el dictatorial Diosdado Cabello
High-ranking officials, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine, carried out visits this week to countries in the region to strengthen security cooperation. According to Hegseth, the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization offers "a whole range of additional legal alternatives" to act against its operations.
In recent days, Trump has insisted that the United States is working to "deter Venezuela and drug traffickers" whosend "poison" to American territory. The president assured that his government "will take care" of the situation, without providing details about the next steps.
The combination of warnings, sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and military presence creates the most tense scenario in years between Washington and Caracas. Meanwhile, the American deployment continues and Venezuelan airspace is being closed, the Trump administration keeps that its strategy seeks to protect national security and combat the criminal networks that support Maduro's regime.
Los funcionarios estadounidenses visitaron distintos países de la región en la semana para reforzar la seguridad
