(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela is closed, amid escalating tensions over alleged drug trafficking by the Venezuelan government. Trump made the declaration on Truth Social but did not specify how far the restricted airspace extends beyond Venezuela’s borders.

Since September, the US military has conducted over 20 strikes on small vessels in international waters in the Caribbean, targeting what it claims are drug-smuggling operations, with media reports indicating more than 80 casualties. In mid-November, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Operation Southern Spear, deploying approximately 15,000 personnel and more than a dozen warships to the region.

Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of personally leading a major drug cartel, increasing the bounty on him to $50 million. Maduro denies these allegations, calling them a pretext for regime change, and has warned against any US military action. In response to the US buildup, Venezuela has placed its armed forces on high alert and conducted military exercises.

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