(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping directive on Saturday, declaring that all airspace over and around Venezuela should now be treated as fully restricted. His statement marked a sharp escalation in Washington’s standoff with Caracas.

Posting on his social media platform, he wrote: "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY."

This declaration follows months of steadily broadening US military activity throughout Latin America. According to general reports, the United States has deployed Marines, naval vessels, combat aircraft, submarines, and surveillance drones across the region, fueling speculation that Washington may be preparing for potential armed action against Venezuela.

Thus far, US forces have carried out 21 strikes on vessels alleged to be involved in drug trafficking, resulting in at least 83 deaths. The administration has referred to those killed as “narco-terrorists.” On Thursday, Trump stated that the US will “very soon” begin targeting suspected drug networks operating on Venezuelan territory.

The announcement also comes shortly after Washington formally categorized the Cartel de los Soles—an organization it accuses President Nicolas Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials of running—as a foreign terrorist organization.

Caracas dismissed the designation, calling it a “ridiculous” attempt to label a “nonexistent” cartel as a terrorist group.

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