Rising Tensions in the Caribbean: Venezuela Accuses U.S. of "Aerial Sovereignty Breach"

In a recent development, the Venezuelan regime has lodged a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), alleging a "breach of its sovereignty" by the United States. This comes after President Donald Trump indicated that Venezuelan airspace should be deemed closed.

Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramón Velásquez Araguayán announced that Caracas made this complaint under its "diplomacy of peace" initiative, citing "serious threats against Venezuelan airspace" that, according to him, jeopardize hemispheric security, as reported by EFE.

"The Venezuelan state has formally notified the ICAO of the severe threats to our airspace that endanger security in this hemisphere," Velásquez Araguayán stated in a now-deleted statement shared on social media.

He criticized Trump's announcement, labeling it as "an unlawful interference" without any legal basis or authority, which falls under the criminal activities outlined in Annex 17 of the International Civil Aviation Convention.

The minister emphasized that the National Aeronautics Authority (INAC) is solely responsible for regulating Venezuelan airspace, asserting that "no foreign power can, in any way, replace the exercise of Venezuelan jurisdiction."

Moreover, the Maduro regime condemned the U.S. for allegedly trying to intimidate and pressure international airlines operating in Venezuela or passing through the Maiquetía Flight Information Region, which it claims affects companies from countries like Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Brazil, and Panama.

Venezuela Criticizes U.S. Military Actions

Simultaneously, Caracas has brought forward accusations to the OPEC+ alliance, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, claiming that the U.S. seeks to "seize Venezuelan oil reserves" by maintaining a military presence in the Caribbean, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking.

The accusation was made in a letter signed by Nicolás Maduro and released by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, arguing that such policies "pose a significant threat to the stability of Venezuelan oil production and the international market."

According to EFE, since August, the United States has maintained naval and aerial deployments near Venezuelan waters, defending them as part of its anti-drug trafficking strategy. Caracas, however, views this as a "threat" aimed at facilitating a governmental change.

The Venezuelan Parliament also reported that U.S. attacks on vessels in the Caribbean might have involved Venezuelan citizens, prompting an extraordinary session to form a commission to investigate these incidents.

Impact on International Aviation

Relations between the two nations have further deteriorated after the U.S. aviation authority urged "extreme caution" when flying over Venezuela and the southern Caribbean. This led several airlines to temporarily suspend flights in the area.

The escalating conflict saw Venezuela halting deportation flights from the U.S. in retaliation to the airspace closure threat and increasing regional tensions.

Civil aviation has also been affected, with airlines like Iberia suspending flights to Venezuela and over the Caribbean, following safety advisories from U.S. authorities post-Trump's warnings.

Diplomatic and Military Responses

Amidst these developments, Trump confirmed direct communication with Maduro but vowed to uphold diplomatic and military pressure to ensure Venezuela "does not pose a regional threat," intensifying mistrust between the governments.

In the U.S., key political figures have backed Trump's Caribbean operations. Senator Marco Rubio defended the initiatives, describing them as a legitimate anti-drug trafficking strategy rather than a direct aggression against Venezuela.