Chaos in Venezuela: Six Major Airlines Banned Following U.S. Military Deployment

Venezuela’s civil aviation authority, which reports to the country’s Ministry of Transport, has immediately suspended the landing and take-off rights of Iberia, TAP Portugal, Gol, Latam, Avianca, and Turkish Airlines, BBC reports.

The decision follows heightened U.S. military activity near Venezuela’s coast. Aviation authorities accused the airlines of “participating in U.S. state-sponsored terrorism and unilaterally suspending commercial operations.”

The United States has deployed 15,000 troops and the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford within striking distance of Venezuela. Washington says the deployment targets drug trafficking, but analysts consider the scale unusually large. U.S. forces have reportedly carried out at least 21 strikes on boats alleged to carry drugs, resulting in over 80 deaths.

The Venezuelan government claims the operation aims to remove President Nicolás Maduro, whose recent re-election was widely criticized as fraudulent. Amid rising tensions, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned airlines to exercise caution over Caracas’ Maiquetía International Airport, prompting the temporary suspension of flights.

Attempts by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to ease the situation were unsuccessful. In recent days, both Maduro and U.S. President Donald Trump have signaled willingness for direct talks. Trump stated on Air Force One that he “might talk” to Maduro but warned that the U.S. could act by “the easy way or the hard way.” Maduro posted a video driving around Caracas pointing to Christmas decorations, attempting to show normal life continues in the city.