Venezuela Condemns US Statement
Venezuela reacts with sharp anger to Donald Trump’s claim that the country’s airspace should be treated as closed. The foreign ministry calls his message “another extravagant, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people”. Officials say the United States holds no legal authority to shut another nation’s airspace. They accuse Trump of issuing a “colonialist threat” that violates international law.
US Military Operations Fuel Tensions
The United States increases its military presence near Venezuela. US forces launch at least 21 strikes on boats they claim transported drugs. More than 80 people die in these attacks. Washington offers no evidence to support the strikes. President Nicolás Maduro says the United States wants to remove him from power. Trump writes on Truth Social that airlines, pilots, smugglers and traffickers should consider the entire Venezuelan airspace closed. The White House does not answer a request for comment from a British broadcaster.
Lawmakers Challenge Trump’s Authority
Trump’s threat triggers rising anger in the US Congress. Members from both parties criticise him for bypassing Congress. Chuck Schumer warns that Trump pushes the United States toward another costly conflict abroad. He stresses that only Congress can declare war under the constitution. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Trump’s strongest allies, repeats that same warning.
Flight Suspensions Follow US Alerts
Trump’s comments come after a warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration. The notice states that military activity around Venezuela has increased. Several major airlines suspend flights shortly after the alert. Caracas responds by removing their take-off and landing rights. Venezuela’s foreign ministry urges governments and global organisations to reject what it calls an immoral act of aggression. The Venezuelan military conducts coastal drills on the same day. State television shows anti-aircraft systems and heavy artillery moving into position.
Major US Deployment Near Venezuelan Waters
The United States deploys the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, alongside about 15,000 troops. Washington says the move targets drug trafficking networks. The deployment becomes the largest US presence in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Trump warns that efforts to block alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking by land will begin very soon. Venezuelan officials say Washington seeks to topple Maduro, whose election victory faced widespread criticism. Colombian President Gustavo Petro says the United States uses violence to dominate Latin America, though other regional leaders support Trump’s position.
Terrorist Designation Sparks New Dispute
The United States labels the Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organisation. Washington alleges that Maduro and senior officials run the group. The designation gives US agencies broader powers to target and dismantle it. Venezuela’s foreign ministry rejects the label “categorically, firmly and absolutely”, calling it another attack on national sovereignty.
