US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the airspace over Venezuela is now shut down. He said the closure covers the entire region above and around the country.

Trump posted the message on Truth Social. He warned multiple groups not to fly there. 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.”

Venezuela did not issue an immediate response to his statement.

US Issued Safety Warning Earlier

Last week, the US aviation regulator alerted major airlines about a “potentially hazardous situation” in Venezuelan skies. The advisory pointed to a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around” Venezuela.

Because of this warning, major carriers began avoiding the region.

Tensions Have Risen for Weeks

Trump’s announcement came after several weeks of sharp diplomatic friction between the two nations. Washington has increased pressure on Nicolás Maduro’s government through new sanctions and expanded surveillance missions aimed at regional drug cartels.

Caracas, in turn, accused the United States of interfering in its internal affairs and violating its sovereignty. Meanwhile, US officials said they were concerned about serious security risks around Venezuelan airspace.

Airlines Halt Flights, Venezuela Reacts

After the US Federal Aviation Administration issued its safety notice, several international airlines suspended their flights to Venezuela. As a response, Venezuela withdrew operating permissions for six major airlines that had chosen to stop services.