Karakas condemned Trump's threat to consider Venezuelan airspace closed

(Patria) - Venezuelan authorities condemned US President Donald Trump's statement that Venezuelan airspace should be considered "completely closed", calling it a "colonialist threat".

"Venezuela condemns the colonialist threat that seeks to affect the sovereignty of its airspace, which represents a new, excessive, illegal and unjustified aggression against the Venezuelan people," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Trump said earlier today that the airspace above and near Venezuela should be considered "completely closed", amid escalating tensions between the US and Venezuelan leftist president Nicolas Maduro.

"To all airlines, pilots, drug traffickers and people, please consider the airspace above and around Venezuela completely closed," Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social, without providing further details.

The statement comes at a time when the Trump administration, in its fight against drug cartels, is increasing pressure on Venezuela with a large military deployment in the Caribbean, including the world's largest aircraft carrier.

Trump accused Venezuela of being a key player in the drug trade that floods the US market. Caracas denies this and insists that the real goal is regime change and control over the country's oil reserves.