In an interesting move that could signal things to come, President Donald Trump on Saturday told airlines they should consider Venezuelan airspace is closed.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 29, 2025
The President's post states:
All airlines, pilots, drug traffickers and human traffickers are asked to consider that the AIR SPACE OVER AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA IS COMPLETELY CLOSED. Thank you for your attention to this issue! PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
Fox Business Report there is more detailed information:
Trump's comments come about a week after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines flying over Venezuela. The FAA issued an advisory urging airlines to “exercise caution” due to a “potentially hazardous situation” in the region.
“Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela,” the agency said. This is stated in the FAA message.
“Threats may pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during the flight, arrival and departure phases, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground,” he added, asking airlines to provide the FAA with at least 72 hours advance notice if they plan to fly through the area.
Some international airlines then canceled their flights to Venezuela following the FAA warning.
To say that this is an interesting move is to say nothing.
Such a warning could be a harbinger of upcoming air actions over Venezuelan airspace. It's not hard to imagine what the action might look like. The Venezuelan Air Force has only few active fighters to protect their airspace: 3–4 obsolete American F-16 A/B fighters and 15–18 Russian-made Su-30MK2 multirole fighters. The F-16s were purchased in the 1980s and most have been grounded due to a lack of spare parts. Sukhoi fighters were purchased from Russia in 2006.
Could the Trump administration consider intercepting planes suspected of carrying drugs the same way they intercept speedboats? Namely, by sudden and violent dismantling using suitable explosives? This would be a significant escalation. Boats carrying drugs are intercepted in international waters. Any actions by American aviation in Venezuelan airspace are a completely different matter.
Or does the administration have any information that Maduro wants to try something? It's hard to believe. Venezuela simply does not have the resources to initiate any significant air action; they can barely defend their airspace. If the United States wanted to get serious, one flight of four F-22s could wipe out Venezuela's fighter fleet in half a day.
There is another interesting point: Venezuela is apparently interfering in primary international air traffic navigation system.
“Since September 2025, there has been an increase in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference in the Maiquetia Flight Information Region (SVZM FIR), as well as activity related to increased military readiness in Venezuela,” the agency said. The FAA also reported this.
“Some civil aircraft have recently reported GNSS interference while passing the NETS FIR, which in some cases caused long-lasting effects throughout the flight. GNSS jammers and spoofers can engage aircraft up to 250 nautical miles and can affect a wide range of critical communications, navigation, surveillance and security equipment on aircraft,” the FAA continued.
Interference with shipping is a serious problem, and it is possible that the United States is seeking to eliminate this possibility, again very likely through the appropriate use of explosives.
The big takeaway from all this seems to be that time is running out for Venezuela. President Nicolas Maduro.
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