At least seven airlines halted flights to Venezuela over the weekend after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of dangers from “heightened military activity” in the area.
Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Chile’s LATAM, Colombia’s Avianca, Brazil’s GOL and Trinidad and Tobago’s Caribbean Airlines indefinitely canceled flights to Caracas.
Turkish Airlines said it would suspend flights until 28 November.
The FAA urged civilian aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to “exercise caution,” citing a worsening security environment, increased military exercises, and activity associated with Venezuela’s heightened military readiness.
Direct passenger and cargo flights between the United States and Venezuela have been suspended since 2019.
Most American airlines have been avoiding Venezuelan airspace.
The FAA warning came amid President Donald Trump’s military pressure campaign against Venezuela’s leftist Nicolas Maduro regime.
Roughly 20 percent of all US warships deployed worldwide are in international waters in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
They are backed by more than 75 attack and surveillance aircraft.
It is unclear what President Donald Trump has in mind.
His administration has accused Maduro of directing a drug cartel it has designated as a terrorist group, conceivably justifying his capture or killing in a counternarcotics mission.
In July, the administration doubled to $50 million its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest.
Since September, US forces have carried out at least 16 attacks against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing more than 76 people the administration labeled “narco-terrorists.” Most of the boats have struck near Venezuelan territorial waters.
The attacks are unprecedented.
Trump has alternated between denying he plans to attack Venezuela to suggesting that a “new phase” of his counternarcotics campaign could include land operations.
He has acknowledged authorizing covert CIA operations and has said Maduro’s “days are numbered.”
Even if Trump does not order an attack on forces of the Maduro regime, the current US military campaign could lead to an inadvertent exchange of fire, with unpredictable consequences.
The Maduro regime has a history of arresting Americans and foreigners arbitrarily for use as bargaining chips.
This service long has advised against travel to Venezuela.
