President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after speaking to troops via video from his Mar-a-Lago estate on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla.
Alex Brandon/AP
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Alex Brandon/AP
The international community is on edge as President Donald Trump recently called for a complete shutdown of Venezuelan airspace, sparking a swift rebuke from Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has labeled Trump’s pronouncement as a violation of international law, casting it as a “colonialist threat” to its sovereignty.
In a Truth Social post, Trump declared, “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”
The Venezuelan government responded with a statement stating that such comments from Trump infringe on international law and that “No authority outside the Venezuelan institutional framework has the power to interfere with, block, or condition the use of international airspace.”
Despite Trump’s declaration, Flightradar24 data suggests that aircraft continue to operate in Venezuelan airspace.
This development follows a report from The Washington Post detailing an incident where Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly ordered a military strike on a boat suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean, raising concerns about the extent of military force used in “Operation Southern Spear.” The military operation reportedly includes at least 21 strikes resulting in 82 casualties on alleged drug boats.
Venezuela has criticized these actions as “an explicit use of force,” referencing the prohibition under Article 2, paragraph 4 of the U.N. Charter. The U.S. military’s actions have also attracted scrutiny from U.S. legislators, with Senator Chris Van Hollen expressing concerns over the legality of these strikes, suggesting they might constitute a “war crime” if conducted without proper evidence.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt defended Trump’s actions, citing the need to counteract drug smuggling through a two-pronged strategy involving the eradication of precursors from China and targeting cartels.
Discontent over Trump’s policy towards Venezuela is evident on both sides of the political aisle. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voiced his disapproval on social media, warning that Trump’s approach might draw the U.S. into another costly foreign conflict. Former Trump ally, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, also reminded that Congress holds the authority to declare war.
