Venezuela Calls Trump's Airspace Closure Order a 'Colonialist Threat' Amid US Drug Operation Controversy

Trump's Venezuela Airspace Order Ignites International Outcry & US Political Firestorm

The Venezuelan government has issued a scathing rebuke of President Donald Trump's recent declaration regarding the closure of airspace above and surrounding Venezuela. Labeling the move a "colonialist threat," Caracas unequivocally stated that it constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. President Trump's directive came via a Truth Social post on Saturday, November 29, 2025, explicitly instructing, "To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY."

Venezuela Denounces "Colonialist Threat"

In its prompt and forceful response, Venezuela stressed that no external authority possesses the right to interfere with, block, or impose conditions on the use of its sovereign international airspace. The nation underscored that such statements represent an explicit use of force, which is strictly prohibited under Article 2, paragraph 4 of the U.N. Charter of the United Nations. Despite the presidential decree, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 on Sunday afternoon, November 30, 2025, confirmed that aircraft continued to operate unimpeded within Venezuelan airspace.

"Operation Southern Spear" Under Scrutiny

This escalating diplomatic tension arises amidst an ongoing investigation into the Pentagon's conduct concerning "Operation Southern Spear," a controversial campaign targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Reports by The Washington Post, subsequently confirmed by NPR, revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth allegedly issued an order in September to eliminate all crew members aboard a boat suspected of smuggling drugs. Since then, the U.S. military has reportedly conducted at least 21 strikes, leading to the deaths of at least 82 individuals on alleged drug vessels.

Divided Congress Weighs In

The alleged actions by the administration have ignited a bipartisan debate within the U.S. Congress. Democrats have been particularly vocal in their criticism. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), appearing on ABC's This Week, suggested that the military's actions could potentially be considered a "war crime" and demanded accountability for Hegseth. Van Hollen criticized the administration's failure to present public information to substantiate the drug-trafficking claims, noting that if the underlying intelligence were flawed, the actions could amount to "plain murder."

Conversely, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt, a member of the Armed Services Committee, defended President Trump's stance on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News. Schmitt asserted that Trump is acting "well within his Article 2 powers" to curb drug smuggling. He outlined a two-part strategy: intercepting precursor chemicals originating from China and dismantling cartels responsible for distributing and transporting drugs into the United States.

Wider Congressional Frustration

Beyond the immediate debate, the Trump administration's unilateral approach to Venezuela and the lack of legislative approval for military strikes have fostered frustration across the political spectrum in Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) warned on X, just hours after Trump's airspace post, that "Trump's reckless actions towards Venezuela are pushing America closer and closer to another costly foreign war." Even former Trump ally, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, took to X on the same day to issue a salient reminder: "Congress has the sole power to declare war," emphasizing the constitutional prerogative of the legislative branch in authorizing military engagements.