In recent days, pressure from the United States on the Maduro administration has been increasing with actions and statements aimed, according to Maduro himself, at promoting “a change of regime” in Venezuela.
The conflict between the United States and Venezuela experienced another episode on Thursday, November 27, with the revocation of the concession to six international airlines that had suspended their flights to and from Caracas, following the warning from the US Federal Aviation Administration about “a potentially dangerous situation in the region.”
The tension between both countries heated up in mid-August, when Donald Trump’s government ordered a military deployment in the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking cartels, including the Cartel of the Suns, led – according to the US – by Nicolás Maduro and senior members of his administration. An accusation that Miraflores denies.
Since then, the United States government – without presenting evidence or details of the operation – has destroyed around 20 vessels in which more than 70 people who were allegedly transporting drugs have died. The most recent attack occurred on November 15 under Operation Southern Spear, according to the Southern Command.
In recent days, pressure from the United States on the Maduro administration has been increasing with actions and statements aimed, according to Maduro himself, at promoting “a change of regime” in Venezuela.
Venezuela and the United States have not maintained diplomatic relations since 2019. After Donald Trump recognized Juan Guaidó as “interim president”, Nicolás Maduro announced the break with the “imperialist” government of the United States: “Get out! They are leaving Venezuela! Enough of interventionism,” he said at the time.
*Read also: Padrino López: “We are ready and willing to respond to any aggression”
Pressure builds: this is what happened
Operation Southern Spear. The United States announced on November 13 a new phase of its military offensive against drug trafficking, under the name Operation Lanza del Sur, after the arrival in the Caribbean of the largest aircraft carrier in the world, the Gerald Ford.
The information was announced by the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, in a publication in X. «Today I announce Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. Led by Joint Task Force Lanza del Sur and @SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our homeland, eliminates narco-terrorists from our hemisphere, and protects our homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.
With this deployment, the United States is demonstrating its military power in the region, unprecedented in decades.
US aviation issues alert. The United States Federal Aviation Administration warned on November 21 about the “potential risks” that air operators face when flying in Venezuelan airspace, due to the “worsening security situation and increased military activity” in the country or its surroundings.
The agency urged commercial airlines and pilots to exercise extreme caution at all altitudes, including during overflight, arrivals or departures, and with planes on the ground.
With its call, the United States Federal Aviation Administration raised the temperature in the relationship between the United States and Venezuela “through the skies.”
Cartel of the Suns, terrorist organization: On November 24, the designation of the Cartel of the Suns came into effect as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. With this decision, signed by Marco Rubio, secretary of the Department of State, the aforementioned organization joined the list that includes criminal structures such as Hezbollah, ISIS and Al Qaeda.
In this regard, the US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, stated that this designation will bring “new options” so that the Trump administration can confront the Cartel of the Suns.
From Venezuela, the Maduro administration rejected the United States’ accusation and described it as a “ridiculous hoax.” He maintained that the Cartel of the Suns does not exist.
Dominican Republic lends airports to the US. Pete Hegseth arrived in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday the 26th with the purpose of “strengthening” the “joint efforts” against drug trafficking. It is the first visit by a Pentagon chief to the country. Their presence contributes to increasing fear and expectation about a possible military attack against Venezuela.
As a result of the meeting, Dominican Republic authorized the United States to use two airports to facilitate the actions of Operation Lanza del Sur. The Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, criticized the decision and described it as “imperial folly.”
Maduro revokes concession to airlines. Following the decision of several airlines to suspend their flights to and from Venezuela, following the alert issued by the US Aviation, the administration of Nicolás Maduro revoked the concession to six international airlines whom he accused of joining “terrorist actions” promoted by the United States government, according to the communication published on the Instagram account of the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) this Wednesday, November 26.
The airlines affected by the measure are: Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España SA, Transportes Aéreos Portugueses SA (TAP Portugal), Aerovías del Continente Americano SA (Avianca), Aerovías de Integración Regional SA (Latam Airlines Colombia), Turkish Airlines and GOL Linhas Aereas SA
In the measure, the airlines Caribbean, Laser, Estelar, Air Europa and Plus Ultra were not mentioned, which They also announced suspension of flights. According to unofficial information, the Maduro administration would have given it a period of 48 hours to reactivate its operations.
Countries ask not to travel to Venezuela. The latest events have raised the level of alarm in several countries, whose governments updated their travel alerts and have recommended their citizens not to travel to Venezuela due to “extreme risk” situations. These countries include France, Switzerland, Poland, South Korea and Germany.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
Post Views: 469
