Venezuela revokes the privilege granted to Iberia and other airlines to suspend their flights amid military tension with the United States

he Government of Venezuela He fulfilled his threat and canceled it Wednesday Franchising flights for a number of international airlinesAmong them is Iberia, by accusing it of “joining terrorist acts” promoted by the United States, which increases pressure on the Chavista regime in the Caribbean, where it maintains its unprecedented military presence.

Hours after the expiration of the deadline granted by the Venezuelan authorities to airlines, which expired at 16:00 GMT (noon local time), the Ministry of Transport and the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) announced their decision, which affects… Iberia, TAP Air, Avianca, LATAM Colombia, Turkish Airlines and GOL.

The cancellation order has been published on The newspaper Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela but the other two Spanish airlines are not included, Air Europa and Plus UltraWhich canceled its contacts with Caracas for security reasons.

These companies had canceled their flights to and from Caracas after the US Federal Aviation Administration last Friday urged commercial airlines to do so. “Extreme caution” when flying over Venezuela The Southern Caribbean is facing what it considers a “potentially dangerous situation in the region.”

The full extent of this cancellation, which would isolate Venezuela and limit its air connectivity at a crucial time for transportation such as Christmas, remains to be seen.

Venezuela ‘decides who flies’

Shortly before the announcement, the Venezuelan Interior Minister said: Diosdado poetryHe pointed out that the country’s government is the one that “decides who travels and who does not” and “reserves the right of admission.”

“The national government, in a sovereign decision, informed (airline) companies: If you do not resume flights within 48 hours, do not resume them again. You preserve your planes and we preserve our dignity That’s it, no problem,” said Chavismo’s second-in-command.

Currently, Copa, Wingo, Boliviana de Aviación and Satena, as well as local companies Avior and Conviasa (state-owned), maintain operations in the country.

In this context, an American plane carrying 175 deported migrants landed this afternoon at Venezuela’s main airport, Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, and which, according to the agency, Evie This is explained by a source from the Ministry of Transport “There is no danger in Venezuelan airspace.” Moreover, it shows “double-speak” on the part of Washington.

Later, the Venezuelan government confirmed that the United States had requested “special permits” to operate “repatriation routes with American aircraft.”

Movement in the Caribbean

Meanwhile, the US Air Force revealed on Wednesday that B-52H bomber aircraft carried out attack demonstrations this week in the Caribbean.

The authorities did not specify the location of these demonstrations, which they framed as part of the military operation. Southern Spearannounced on November 14 for Combating drug smuggling It originated in Latin America three months after the start of military deployment in the region.

Also on Wednesday, Dominican President Louis Abi Nader and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the United States would “temporarily” use two airports in the Dominican Republic as part of its fight against drug trafficking through the operation. Southern Spear.

Abi Nader, in the presence of Hegseth, said that the Americas International Airport and the San Isidro Military Airport, both in Santo Domingo province, will allocate areas for the transportation of American equipment and technical personnel.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, confirmed on Wednesday that the White House had not asked her country to be a “base for any war against Venezuela,” a day after the visit of US Chief of Staff Dan Kaine, and rejected speculation that North American military activity in the island nation was linked to tensions with Caracas.

Defense and dialogue

Executive Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy RodriguezHe said Wednesday that “the path is not to send ships” or threaten his country “militarily.”

Hours later, Cabello announced, starting Thursday, the stage of organizing in societies “regardless of the circumstances,” without specifying what this organization means, and he spoke of defending the country in moments of tension due to the American military mobilization.

Moreover, consider “Imperial madness” The Dominican Republic allows the United States to use two airports in Santo Domingo as part of the fight against drug trafficking.

For his part, Attorney General Tarek William Saab said that direct talks between President Nicolas Maduro and his American counterpart are welcome. Donald TrumpWho said his contacts with the Chavista leader aimed to “save many lives.”