Venezuela’s government has issued a forceful condemnation of what it characterizes as a “colonialist threat” against its national sovereignty, denouncing recent statements from the United States as an illegal and unjustified aggression. The administration of President Nicolás Maduro released an official statement on November 29th vehemently rejecting a social media message disseminated by US President Donald Trump earlier that day.
The Venezuelan government accused Trump of attempting to “extraterritorially apply the illegitimate jurisdiction of the US in Venezuela” through what it described as an unprecedented effort to issue commands regarding Venezuelan airspace. The statement characterized this as a hostile, unilateral act incompatible with fundamental principles of International Law, representing part of a sustained policy of aggression with colonial ambitions toward Latin America and the Caribbean.
Venezuela’s response specifically referenced Article 2, paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter, asserting that Trump’s statements constitute an explicit threat of force that is clearly prohibited under international law. The controversy stems from Trump’s message on X (formerly Twitter) calling on all airlines, pilots, and traffickers to consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela “closed in its entirety.”
The Venezuelan government emphasized its absolute sovereignty over national airspace under standards established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the 1944 Chicago Convention, which explicitly recognizes each state’s exclusive authority over its territorial airspace. The Bolivarian government warned it would not accept orders, threats, or interference from any foreign power, stating that no external authority has the right to block or condition the use of Venezuelan airspace.
In response to the escalating tensions, the US government has unilaterally suspended Venezuelan migrant flights that were regularly conducted as part of the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland Plan), which had previously facilitated 75 flights repatriating 13,956 Venezuelans.
The diplomatic clash occurs amid increased US military presence in the region, with several airlines recently halting flights to Venezuela following warnings from US aviation authorities about “heightened military activity.” The US has characterized its military buildup as part of counter-narcotics operations, while Venezuelan officials consistently deny involvement in criminal activities and accuse the US of attempting to overthrow their government.
President Maduro, speaking through his Telegram account on November 29th, reaffirmed Venezuela’s commitment to sovereignty, stating: “We have a glorious and unique history; we were free because we were united under a single command,” while expressing confidence that “the times of the Greater Homeland will return.”