Donald Trump says the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela is to be closed “in its entirety”.
The US president made the announcement on Reality Social amid rising tensions with the federal government of President Nicolas Maduro.
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.”
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Picture:
Air site visitors above Venezuela this afternoon. Pic: FlightRadar24
It comes after the US aviation regulator warned airways of a “potentially hazardous situation” when flying over Venezuela as a result of a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity”.
The South American nation subsequently revoked working rights for six main airways that heeded the warning and suspended flights to the nation.
What’s extra, Trump informed the army this week that land operations in opposition to suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers would start “very soon”.
The president has accused his Venezuelan counterpart, Maduro, of involvement in drug trafficking, which he denies.
Picture:
Nicolas Maduro. Pic: Reuters
Maduro, broadly thought of a dictator, has been president since 2013, and says Trump needs to oust him.
In latest weeks, America’s counter-narcotics operations have seen a minimum of 83 individuals killed in airstrikes on vessels within the Caribbean Sea.
The primary such airstrike was in opposition to a Venezuelan vessel and killed all 11 individuals on board.
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6:44
Sky’s army analyst Michael Clarke takes a seems at Donald Trump’s battle on medication in Venezuela and whether or not he’s attempting to topple President Nicolas Maduro.
There’s additionally been a US army buildup within the area, and Trump has authorised covert CIA operations in Venezuela.
Venezuela’s communications ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Trump’s publish.
The US president has not but provided extra particulars.
