Colombian President Gustavo Petro has launched a forceful diplomatic challenge against the United States following President Donald Trump’s directive to close Venezuelan airspace. In a strongly-worded social media statement on November 30, Petro denounced the US action as \”completely illegal\” and called for immediate intervention by international aviation authorities.\n\nThe South American leader demanded that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations agency overseeing global aviation cooperation among 193 nations, convene an emergency assembly to address the escalating situation. Petro emphasized that neither the UN Security Council nor the US Senate had authorized military action against Venezuela, asserting that \”the international order must be preserved\” through regional solidarity.\n\nPetro’s statement highlighted the deep historical ties between Colombia and Venezuela, noting their shared independence from Spain under Simón Bolívar and their former existence as a single nation. This historical context underscores the significance of Colombia’s defense of its neighbor against what Venezuelan officials characterize as \”colonialist threats.\”\n\nThe aviation conflict emerged when Trump publicly called on November 29 for all airlines, pilots, and even illicit traffickers to avoid Venezuelan airspace entirely. This unprecedented move prompted immediate retaliation from Caracas, which revoked concessions for several airlines that had already suspended operations following US Federal Aviation Administration warnings about regional security deterioration.\n\nVenezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez accused the US government of collaborating with opposition figures to blockade the country’s airways. In response, the Maduro administration announced emergency measures to assist stranded citizens and facilitate international travel while pursuing multilateral legal challenges.\n\nThe airspace confrontation represents the latest escalation in mounting tensions between the US and Venezuela, which have intensified since American military deployments to the Southern Caribbean. While US authorities frame their presence as counter-narcotics operations, Venezuelan leadership maintains this constitutes an attempted resource grab targeting the nation’s substantial oil reserves.\n\nPresident Petro has urged Latin American and Caribbean nations to maintain normal flight operations and proposed sanctions against companies complying with what he considers unlawful orders, asserting that \”humanity must be free to fly\” and skies must remain open worldwide.
Colombian president slams Trump’s airspace calls against Venezuela
