Venezuelan Government Responds to U.S. Airspace Statement
The Venezuelan government issued a statement condemning a call made by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday to close the airspace above Venezuela.
Trump's Statement
On the Truth Social platform, Trump posted, "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY."
Venezuela's Official Response
In response, the Venezuelan government stated that Trump's comments constituted a violation of international law and a "colonialist threat" to the country's sovereignty. The statement asserted that "No authority outside the Venezuelan institutional framework has the power to interfere with, block, or condition the use of international airspace." Additionally, Venezuela cited that "such statements represent an explicit use of force, which is prohibited by Article 2, paragraph 4 of the U.N. Charter of the United Nations."
As of Sunday afternoon, Flightradar24 data indicated that air traffic continued within Venezuelan airspace.
Congressional Scrutiny and Military Operations
This development followed a day after the Senate and House Armed Services committees announced investigations into the Pentagon. This decision came after a report by The Washington Post, subsequently confirmed by NPR, indicated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had issued an order to eliminate all crew members on a boat suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean in September.
The U.S. military has conducted at least 21 strikes, resulting in the deaths of at least 82 individuals on alleged drug boats, as part of "Operation Southern Spear." The Trump administration has described this campaign as an effort to combat drug trafficking.
Diverse Reactions in U.S. Congress
Democrats have criticized the administration's strategy, questioning the sufficiency of evidence to confirm that boats were carrying drugs before strikes were executed. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) indicated that the military's actions could be considered a "war crime" and that Hegseth should be held accountable. Van Hollen noted that the public had not been presented with the administration's information regarding these actions.
Conversely, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the Armed Services Committee, stated that Trump acted "well within his Article 2 powers" in addressing drug smuggling through such strikes. Schmitt outlined what he described as a "two-part strategy" involving the interception of precursors from China and targeting cartels responsible for distribution to the United States.
Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress have expressed concerns regarding the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela and the execution of strikes without legislative approval. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) commented on social media that Trump's actions toward Venezuela were increasing the likelihood of a foreign conflict. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also posted, reiterating that "Congress has the sole power to declare war."