Trump's Venezuela Airspace Warning Sparks 'Colonialist Threat' Backlash
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US President Donald Trump's warning to airlines to avoid Venezuelan airspace has sparked a fresh diplomatic row. Venezuela's government has hit back at Trump, calling his comments a 'colonialist threat' and warning of severe consequences, including disruptions to repatriation flights of Venezuelan migrants from the US. Trump's warning came after US aviation officials advised airlines to exercise caution near Venezuelan airspace due to rising tensions. In response, Maduro's government banned several major carriers from operating in the country, accusing them of 'joining state terrorism promoted by the US government.' The US has stepped up pressure on Caracas in recent months as part of a counter-narcotics effort, with the Trump administration listing Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation. Venezuela, however, denies the claim and sees the US military buildup in the Caribbean as an attempt to pressure and oust President Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela's foreign ministry described Trump's warning as 'new extravagant, illegal, and unjustified aggression against the people of Venezuela.' The country's military has also conducted drills along the coast, with state television showing anti-aircraft weapons and other artillery being moved. While Trump has not openly threatened to use force to remove Maduro, he has hinted at taking action to stop Venezuelan drug trafficking. Maduro's re-election last year was rejected by much of the international community as fraudulent, and the US claims that the leader heads an alleged drug cartel.
