Trump Orders Venezuelan Airspace Shut As U.S. Military Bolsters Anti-Drug Campaign in Region
Washington, D.C. – November 29, 2025
U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Saturday publicly directed airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers to treat the airspace above and surrounding the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as “closed in its entirety.”
The order comes at a time when the U.S. has significantly expanded its military presence in the Caribbean and near Venezuelan waters, part of what the administration calls a crackdown on narcotics trafficking and “narco-terrorism.”
A post from Trump on Truth Social read:
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
The determination appears to be rooted in security concerns tied to U.S. military operations.
The closure occurs against the backdrop of a sweeping U.S. military deployment aimed at disrupting alleged drug-trafficking routes and “narcoterrorist” networks operating through Venezuela.
Since mid-2025, the U.S. has sent multiple naval assets, including guided-missile destroyers, amphibious groups, and surveillance capabilities, into the southern Caribbean for counter-narcotics operations.
Most recently, the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group near Venezuela marks the heaviest concentration of U.S. naval power in the region in decades.
According to U.S. statements, these forces have already participated in a series of operations, including air and sea strikes, targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels.
Several major international airlines already suspended flights following warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which had cautioned of “potentially hazardous” conditions over Venezuela due to rising military activity.
Shortly after the U.S. declaration, the Venezuelan government revoked the operating rights of six major international carriers, a move it framed as justified after their de facto compliance with the FAA advisory.
The FAA had warned that flights over the Venezuelan Flight Information Region (FIR) could face interference with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals, including jamming and spoofing, which can impair navigation and safety, especially at all altitudes.
The Trump administration says these actions are part of a necessary effort to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, including drug cartels, human-trafficking rings, and what it designates as “narco-terrorist” networks tied to elements within Venezuela’s government and military.
