Venezuela has prohibited six international airlines from landing in the country following their failure to meet a deadline to resume flights. The airlines had previously suspended their routes to Caracas after the United States issued a warning regarding increased military activity in the region. The Venezuelan government responded by issuing an ultimatum that expired on a recent Wednesday. While smaller airlines continue to operate, many passengers have been affected by these suspensions.
The U.S. military has bolstered its presence in waters near Venezuela, with a deployment described as a measure against drug trafficking. Venezuelan leadership, however, contends that this increase in military activity is an attempt to destabilize the government. In this context, Venezuela’s civil aviation authority announced that Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, Latam, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines would lose their landing and take-off rights immediately. The authority accused these airlines of aligning with actions it described as state terrorism promoted by the U.S. government.
The U.S. has positioned 15,000 troops and the USS Gerald Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, close to Venezuela. Although U.S. forces have conducted strikes on vessels they allege were involved in drug trafficking, evidence confirming these claims has not been made public. Analysts have noted that the scale of the deployment appears unusually large for a counter-narcotics mission, leading to speculation about its true aims. The Venezuelan government views this military action as an effort to remove President Nicolás Maduro, whose recent re-election was contested by both domestic opposition and several foreign nations.
Amid rising tensions, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a cautionary alert to airlines operating in Caracas’s Maiquetía International Airport, urging heightened caution due to the deteriorating security situation. Attempts by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to mediate and restore operations did not resolve the issue. Recently, both President Maduro and U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a willingness to engage in dialogue, but the feasibility of such discussions remains uncertain.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0keyern0do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss