Russian travel agency Pegas Touristik, which frequently flies to the Nueva Esparta archipelago, which includes Margarita Island, in northern Venezuela, responded to a US warning on Sunday and halted its flights, French news agencies and EFE reported.
As the Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR) noted on its official website, this decision was made due to “the potential threat to the security of civil flights in Venezuelan airspace due to the conflict with the United States.”
Since 2021, Venezuela and Russia have signed several tourism agreements, thanks to which Nueva Sparta has received thousands of Russian tourists who contribute to the island’s economy, which depends mainly on tourism.
US weather alert
Last week, Washington issued an air alert due to increased military activity in the region, which six airlines that have suspended connections with Venezuela complied with: Spain’s Iberia, Portugal’s TAP, Colombia’s Avianca, the Colombian subsidiary of Chile-Brazilian LATAM, Brazil’s GOL, and Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines.
Accordingly, the Venezuelan aviation authority revoked the operating privileges in its country granted to these airlines, all of which were accused of “joining terrorist acts” promoted by the United States.
Other airlines such as Air Europe and Plus Ultra have also suspended operations with Venezuela. Copa, Wingo, Boliviana de Aviación and Satena, as well as local state-owned companies Avior and Conviasa, are currently maintaining flights to the South American country. Through Conviasa, Venezuela currently maintains two routes to Chavista’s ally, Russia.
Airspace ‘completely closed’ by Trump
The United States is promoting a sea fence, and now an air fence, over Venezuela and surrounding areas, after President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that the Caribbean nation’s airspace should be considered “completely closed.” He had previously announced ground operations “very soon” in Venezuela.
The American forces that have been carrying out a supposed anti-drug operation in the Caribbean since August include destroyers, fighter planes, thousands of soldiers, and the largest aircraft carrier in the world. Venezuela asserts that the maneuvers are not aimed at combating drug trafficking, but rather at overthrowing Maduro and seizing his oil.
The authorities of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, the two countries neighboring Venezuela, confirmed that airlines continue to operate in their airspace normally.
Complaint to ICAO and support from Petro
On Sunday, Venezuela’s government appeared before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to accuse the United States of violating its sovereignty.
In a statement by Transport Minister Ramon Velasquez Araguayan, published and later deleted from social networks, the Maduro administration noted that Trump had abruptly announced “the alleged closure of Venezuelan airspace, without – in his words – having the authority required for an announcement of this kind and without any legal basis.”
In addition, he reiterated that the National Aeronautical Institute (INAC) is the only entity authorized to regulate Venezuelan airspace.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro asked the International Civil Aviation Organization to hold a meeting regarding what he described as Trump’s announcement of the “completely illegal” closure. He also asked the European Union to order the normalization of flights to and from Venezuela.
The Venezuelan Parliament announces the opening of an investigation
On the other hand, the Speaker of the Venezuelan Parliament, Jorge Rodriguez, reported that he met with relatives of Venezuelans who died in US attacks on boats in the Caribbean Sea, which were allegedly transporting drugs.
Rodriguez showed a photo of the meeting without revealing the identities of the relatives because, he confirmed, they had received threats “from sectors and people who have a paramount interest in not telling the truth and not clarifying the facts.”
The parliamentarian announced that an extraordinary session will be held on Monday to vote on forming a special committee to investigate these events and determine the number of Venezuelans who lost their lives in these attacks, as there are citizens of other nationalities, such as Colombians, Dominicans, and Trinidadians.
So far, the United States has announced attacks against 20 ships in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing about 83 people.
RML (Effie, AFP)