Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has escalated hostilities towards foreign airlines and the US federal government. He is threatening to revoke airlines’ operating clearance if they do not restart flights to Venezuela within 48 hours. The deadline follows a long list of airline shutdowns. These suspensions were a response to calls from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to heightened military action in the area.
During a recent broadcast of his television show, Maduro declared, “they will not be able to defeat Venezuela, we are invincible.” His comments come amid increasing international pressure, including criticism from his friends at home and from the U.S. government, which has declared him an illegitimate leader. At the same time, U.S. military deployment has increased in the southern Caribbean. They deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the region as part of this military build-up.
Eastern airlines like Iberia and Air Europa have all withdrawn flights to Venezuela. This decision, the first of its kind by DHS, comes in response to elevated security threats in the region. The FAA issued a “Notice to Air Missions” on Friday, advising airlines to “exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetía flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation.”
On Monday, Venezuela’s aviation authority, Inac, suspended operations as a response to the plight of They leveled an ultimatum, threatening to ground international airlines serving the country if they were not lifted within 48 hours. If they don’t, their clearance to operate flights to Venezuela will be revoked.
The International Air Transport Association (Iata) emphasized that its member airlines have only temporarily suspended flights and remain “committed to restoring operations to and from Venezuela as soon as conditions allow.” Iata warned of the negative effects on connectivity. This is despite the fact that this country is already among the least connected in the region.
Maiquetía International Airport, Venezuela’s only major international airport, around 30 minutes from the capital city of Caracas. Even with the suspensions, Colombian airline Copa and Venezuelan airline Conviasa have maintained flights in and out of Maiquetía.
Faced with mounting diplomatic isolation and the threat of violence, U.S. President Donald Trump would be willing to speak directly with Maduro. He certainly hasn’t ruled it out. “At a certain period of time, I’ll be talking to him,” Trump stated, suggesting that discussions could occur as the situation develops.
Maduro has condemned the U.S. military build-up and subsequent strikes as an effort to gouge his government from power. Even his administration’s rigged 2024 re-election bid has drawn widespread condemnation from inside and outside the state. Many observers have written it off as rigged.