Trump escalates warnings to Venezuela, declares its airspace “closed”

US President Donald Trump sharply intensified his warnings toward Venezuela on Saturday, declaring that the country’s airspace should be treated as “closed” — a message that has fueled concerns of impending US military action.

Venezuelan officials, who view the recent US military buildup in the Caribbean as part of an effort to unseat President Nicolás Maduro, denounced Trump’s remarks as a “colonialist threat.”

In a social media post addressed to “airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers,” Trump urged them to consider all airspace over and around Venezuela “completely closed.” Though he offered no further explanation, months of lethal US strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels have heightened speculation that Washington may be preparing operations on Venezuelan territory.

The warning came shortly after US aviation authorities advised airlines to exercise heightened caution near Venezuela due to rising tensions, prompting several major carriers to halt flights. In retaliation, Maduro’s government barred those airlines from operating, accusing them of supporting “state terrorism” by the United States.

Venezuela’s foreign ministry condemned Trump’s comments as a “new, extravagant, illegal, and baseless act of aggression,” and said the resulting airspace restrictions would block repatriation flights for Venezuelan migrants — a key Trump initiative.

Amid the escalating standoff, Venezuela’s military carried out coastal drills on Saturday, with state television airing footage of antiaircraft and artillery systems being deployed.

Although Trump has not openly threatened to use force to remove Maduro, he said this week that US efforts to curb Venezuelan drug trafficking would soon expand to operations conducted “by land.” Maduro’s disputed reelection last year was widely dismissed as fraudulent, and Washington accuses him of leading a terrorist-designated drug cartel.

A significant buildup of US naval and air forces continues around Venezuela, including the deployment of the world’s largest aircraft carrier and frequent flights of American fighter jets and bombers near the Venezuelan coast.

Despite the heightened rhetoric, US media reported that Trump and Maduro spoke last week. The New York Times said the two discussed a potential meeting, while The Wall Street Journal reported they also talked about possible amnesty terms should Maduro resign.

As fears grow that Trump may order a major operation in Venezuela, lawmakers from both parties have voiced alarm that he has not sought congressional authorization.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of driving the US toward “another costly foreign war,” noting that the Constitution grants Congress sole authority to declare war. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene echoed that reminder.

Others in Trump’s party, however, backed his hardline stance. Senator Lindsey Graham praised the president’s resolve, suggesting Maduro should consider fleeing and quipping, “I hear Turkey and Iran are lovely this time of year.”

Trump is also under scrutiny following reports that the US military fired a second missile at survivors of a September strike on an alleged drug boat. Leaders of both House and Senate Armed Services Committees have announced inquiries, with legal experts warning the attack could constitute a war crime.

Since the anti-trafficking campaign began in September, at least 83 people have been killed in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Washington has yet to provide evidence that the targeted vessels were carrying drugs or posed threats to the US, and experts argue the operations amount to extrajudicial killings even if the victims were known traffickers.