The Colombian government reported that Venezuela’s airspace remained “open and fully operational” and denied the existence of conditions affecting security in the region. The memorandum, issued on Sunday (11/30) by the Colombian Civil Aviation, clarifies that there are no restrictions affecting navigation in the civil area even after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that the Venezuelan air route is closed amid the military escalation between the countries.
He added, “The Special Administrative Unit for Civil Aviation, according to recent inquiries, reports that the airspace of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela remains open and fully operational, without restrictions affecting civil air navigation. Moreover, it sends a message of reassurance regarding its airspace, as there is no situation affecting operational safety at the present time.”
Also in the statement, the Foundation stated that another state does not have the authority to interfere in Venezuela’s sovereignty and that threats from “third parties” fall outside the scope of international law, require operational authority and create confusion in the civil aviation system. The letter refers as a form of criticism to Donald Trump, who raised the tone of his offensive statements against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, and issued a new threat on Saturday (11/29), stating that Venezuela’s airspace is completely closed.
The air threat comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as the North American country, in August this year, sent warships, a nuclear submarine, F-35 fighters and the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to Latin America.
Colombia criticized the United States, and Colombian leader Gustavo Petro called on Trump to end attacks near South American countries.
“The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority joins the call of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reiterates that Latin America and the Caribbean are and must remain a zone of peace, cooperation and respect for sovereignty. It also urges the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to convene an urgent meeting to address this critical situation and ensure continuity of operations, in accordance with the principles of its mandate,” he announced.
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