Khaberni - US President Donald Trump announced today (Saturday), the complete closure of the airspace over and around Venezuela. Trump said, commenting on this step: Drug traffickers and human traffickers should know that the airspace of Venezuela has been closed, according to him.
Trump said in a brief post on his social media platform "Truth Social": "To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider the airspace over Venezuela and the surrounding areas completely closed. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
For its part, Cuba condemned Trump's announcement to close Venezuelan airspace, indicating that he wants to overthrow the legitimate government of Venezuela.
Aircraft movement in Puerto Rico
According to the "Reuters" agency, an increase in the movement of American military aircraft at Roosevelt Rhodes Base in Puerto Rico was monitored, days after President Donald Trump stated that his country would "very soon" take actions on the ground against drug traffickers in Venezuela.
The "New York Times" reported last Friday, quoting informed sources, that American President Donald Trump spoke by phone with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro last week and discussed a potential meeting between them in the United States.
The newspaper added that there are no plans currently to hold such a meeting, which if it were to happen, would be the first-ever meeting between the current Venezuelan leader and any US president.
The White House did not comment on the "New York Times" report, which indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio participated in the phone conversation.
Bombing drug boats
The news of the phone call comes at a time when Trump continues to use harsh rhetoric towards Venezuela.
The Trump administration described Maduro as an "illegitimate leader" leading a drug trafficking gang known as the "Cartel de los Soles", a claim Caracas denies.
Since early September, the US government has been bombing what it says are boats transporting drugs from Venezuela and other countries in Latin America.
Trump repeated his previous threats on Thursday to start bombing ground targets in Venezuela. The American president confirmed during a television conversation with the armed forces: "Most likely you have noticed that people no longer want to transport drugs by sea, and we will start preventing them by land as well."
Warning to airlines
Trump's statement comes about a week after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines against flying over Venezuela, as the administration issued a notice urging airlines to "be cautious" due to the "potentially dangerous situation" in the region.
The Federal Aviation Administration's warning stated: "Aircraft operators are advised to be cautious when operating in the aviation information area at all altitudes due to the deteriorating security situation and increasing military activity in or around Venezuela."
The administration added: "Threats may pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during flight, the arrival and departure stages, at airports and aircraft on the ground," urging airlines to notify the Federal Aviation Administration at least 72 hours in advance if they plan to fly through the area.
Following the Federal Aviation Administration's warning, some international airlines canceled their flights to Venezuela.
