Trump says Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed. It is not clear what this means

chairman donald trump Saturday said the airfield was “up and around” Venezuela It should be considered “completely closed”, a claim that has raised further questions about US pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

white House Trump did not respond to questions about what he posted on his Truth social platform, and it was unclear whether he was announcing a new policy or simply reinforcing the message about his campaign against Maduro, which has included multiple attacks in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on small boats accused of carrying drugs as well as a build-up of naval forces in the region. More than 80 people have been killed in such attacks since the beginning of September.

The Republican president addressed his call for an air blockade “AirlinesPilots, drug dealers and human traffickers,” rather than Maduro. International airlines began canceling flights to Venezuela last week. Federal Aviation Administration Pilots were asked to exercise caution while flying across the country due to increased military activity.

The FAA’s jurisdiction is generally limited to the United States and its territories. The agency routinely warns pilots about the dangers of flying over ongoing conflicts around the world or areas with military activity, as it did with Venezuela earlier this month. The FAA works with other countries and the International Civil Aviation Organization on international issues. The FAA and ICAO did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

The Trump administration has tried to increase pressure on Maduro. The US government does not view Maduro as the legitimate leader of the oil-rich but increasingly impoverished South American nation and he faces charges of narco-terrorism in the US.

The U.S. military has conducted bombing sorties near Venezuela and deployed America’s most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford was dispatched to the area. Ford has built the greatest American firepower in this field in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear” mission involves about a dozen Navy ships and approximately 12,000 sailors and Marines.

Trump’s team has considered both military and non-military options with Venezuela, including covert action by the CIA.

Trump has publicly floated the idea of ​​talking to Maduro. The New York Times reported on Friday that Trump and Maduro had spoken. The White House declined to answer questions about the talks.

,

Associated Press writer Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.