The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory on Dec. 16, warning airlines about the deteriorating security situation in Venezuela, citing “heightened military activity” around the country.
The aviation regulator urged pilots to exercise caution within the Maiquetia flight information region (FIR), which includes Venezuelan airspace, due to potential security risks.
FAA warned that unspecified threats could pose “a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and/or airports and aircraft on the ground.”
The advisory, which runs until Feb. 19, 2026, is the FAA’s second this year addressing security risks in Venezuelan airspace, following a Nov. 22 notice that prompted multiple international airlines to cancel flights to and from Venezuela, some indefinitely.
U.S. President Donald Trump also stated on Nov. 29 that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” though he did not offer any details.
This comes amid rising tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s regime, as the U.S. military has increased operations in the Caribbean, carrying out multiple strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels.
The United States, on Dec. 10, also seized a crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, which U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says was used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
Venezuela’s regime later issued a response statement denouncing the seizure as “an act of international piracy,” accusing the United States of theft.
Trump announced Dec. 16 that he has ordered a “total and complete blockade” off the coast of Venezuela to prevent any “sanctioned oil tankers” from entering the United States.
“Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” the president stated on Truth Social. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before—Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”
In addition, Washington has designated Maduro’s regime as a “foreign terrorist organization” over its alleged involvement in drug trafficking, according to the president.
The United States does not recognize Maduro as the legitimate leader of Venezuela following last year’s disputed presidential election and accused him of involvement in drug trafficking, an allegation Venezuela has denied.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Nov. 17 that he was open to talks with Maduro, but he had not ruled out sending U.S. troops into the country.
“We just have to take care of Venezuela. They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons,” he said.
Kimberly Hayek contributed to this report.
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