A scheduled commercial flight from St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport to Caracas operated by Venezuelan carrier Conviasa remains listed without cancellation notices, despite escalating military tensions in the region. This development occurs alongside significant US military movements near Venezuelan territory.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump formally announced the closure of airspace over Venezuela, citing counter-narcotics operations as justification. Simultaneously, the US Navy has deployed a substantial strike group to the Caribbean Sea, including the advanced aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, nuclear submarine capabilities, and approximately 16,000 military personnel.
Recent months have seen intensified military actions in the region, with US Armed Forces reporting the sinking of at least 20 speedboats in Caribbean and Pacific waters since September, resulting in over 80 casualties. Multiple US media outlets have circulated reports suggesting potential imminent attacks against Venezuelan territory.
The situation escalated significantly on November 27 when President Trump declared Washington’s intention to initiate armed operations within Venezuelan territory, maintaining the official pretext of combating drug trafficking. Many international observers interpret these actions as a transparent justification for attempting to overthrow the current Bolivarian government led by Nicolás Maduro.