Six airways cancelled flights to Venezuela on Saturday, an trade group mentioned, after the U.S. aviation regulator warned of risks from “heightened military activity” amid a serious buildup of American forces within the area.
Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Chile’s LATAM, Colombia’s Avianca and Brazil’s GOL have suspended their flights to the nation, mentioned Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Venezuelan Airways Affiliation (ALAV).
She didn’t specify how lengthy the flight suspensions would final.
Panama’s Copa Airways, Spain’s Air Europa and PlusUltra and Venezuela’s LASER are persevering with to function flights for now. Turkish Airways mentioned Sunday it was canceling flights from November 24-28.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Friday urged civilian plane in Venezuelan airspace to “exercise caution” because of the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”
“Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground,” it mentioned.
Washington has despatched an plane service strike group, different Navy warships in addition to stealth plane to the area — deployments it says are geared toward curbing drug trafficking however which have sparked fears in Caracas that regime change is the objective.
A U.S. terrorism designation takes impact Monday for a drug cartel allegedly headed by leftist Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — a transfer that some imagine may presage army motion in opposition to his authorities.
Members of the Venezuelan Armed Forces take part within the “Plan Independencia 200” protection deployment ordered by Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, amid rising tensions with the USA, in Merida, Venezuela, in a handout image made accessible on Nov. 11, 2025.
Merida Governorate/Handout/REUTERS
Washington’s forces have carried out strikes in opposition to greater than 20 alleged drug-smuggling vessels within the Caribbean Sea and japanese Pacific Ocean since early September, killing greater than 80 individuals.
However the USA has but to launch concrete proof that the vessels it focused had been used to smuggle medication or posed a risk to the nation, and regional tensions have flared because of the marketing campaign and the accompanying army buildup.
The Washington Publish was first to report on the proposed leaflet operation.
President Trump mentioned final week he wouldn’t rule out sending U.S. troops into Venezuela.
“No, I don’t rule out that,” the president mentioned. “I don’t rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela.”
For his half, Maduro on the identical day mentioned he can be open to “face-to-face” discussions with Mr. Trump.
Final month, Mr. Trump additionally confirmed that he has licensed the CIA to enter Venezuela and conduct covert operations.
There are additionally a number of dozen U.S. fighter jets stationed in Puerto Rico.
Maduro, who has led Venezuela since 2013, confronted a world outcry when he declared victory in Venezuela’s presidential elections in July 2024 regardless of outcomes displaying he had misplaced by a big margin to the opposition candidate.
The U.S. is one in every of a number of nations that doesn’t acknowledge him as Venezuela’s president. The Trump administration has accused him of working a cartel that funnels medication into the U.S., and has supplied a $50 million reward for info resulting in his arrest.
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