Venezuela condemns Trump's decision to close its airspace, describing it as a colonial threat
In a new escalation of tensions between Caracas and Washington, Venezuela on Saturday strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s declaration that Venezuelan airspace is completely closed, describing the move as a blatant “colonial threat” that infringes on the country’s national sovereignty.
Details of the Venezuelan conviction
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded statement, categorically rejecting what it called American arrogance. The statement read, “The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces before the international community this colonial threat, which directly seeks to infringe upon its airspace sovereignty.” The ministry added that this declaration constitutes “a new, provocative, and illegitimate act of aggression, lacking any international legal basis, and represents yet another link in the chain of attacks against the Venezuelan people.”.
Military buildup in the Caribbean
This explosive announcement comes at a time when the United States is intensifying its military and political pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Washington has translated its threats into action on the ground by deploying its forces extensively in the Caribbean, a strategic region that the United States considers vital to its national security.
These moves include deploying massive naval vessels, including the world's largest aircraft carrier, to waters near the Venezuelan coast. The US administration justifies this buildup as part of a "broadened war on drug cartels," threatening possible ground incursions into Venezuelan territory to target what it calls illicit trafficking networks—a move Caracas considers a pretext for direct military intervention.
Background of the historical conflict
This event cannot be separated from the tense historical context of US-Venezuelan relations, which spans more than two decades. Since the Bolivarian movement came to power, Washington, through successive administrations, has pursued a policy of “maximum pressure,” employing crippling economic sanctions that have severely impacted Venezuela’s oil sector, which possesses the world’s largest proven reserves.
Observers believe that Venezuela’s use of the term “colonial threat” brings to mind the history of US interventions in Latin America under the “Monroe Doctrine,” where Washington seeks to impose its geopolitical hegemony on the Western Hemisphere and prevent any influence of other international powers such as Russia or China in its backyard.
Regional and international repercussions
This escalation poses significant risks to the stability of the entire region. Closing airspace and threatening military action not only endangers Venezuela but also jeopardizes air and maritime security in the Caribbean. Internationally, this move could provoke reactions from Venezuela's strategic allies, potentially transforming the crisis from a bilateral conflict into a broader global geopolitical tension, particularly given the current global energy crisis.
