Venezuela files complaint over Trump’s remarks on closing its airspace

Monday 01 December 2025 - 09:20

By: Sahili Aya

Venezuela files complaint over Trump’s remarks on closing its airspace

Venezuela announced on Sunday that it has formally submitted a complaint to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), accusing the United States of violating its sovereignty after President Donald Trump declared that Venezuelan airspace should be treated as fully closed.

Transportation Minister Ramon Araguayan said in a social media statement that Trump’s comments constituted an unacceptable intrusion into the country’s jurisdiction. He explained that a detailed written complaint was delivered to ICAO outlining the government’s position.

Araguayan emphasized that such statements amount to “unlawful interference,” a term defined as a serious violation under Annex 17 of the International Civil Aviation Convention, adding that spreading false information risks the safety of civil aviation operations. He stressed that only INAC, the National Aviation Authority, holds the legal mandate to regulate Venezuelan airspace.

According to local outlets, President Nicolás Maduro’s administration also notified the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), warning that increased US military activity in the Caribbean threatens global energy market stability. The message reaffirmed Venezuela’s commitment to protecting its natural resources and resisting foreign pressure.

Jorge Rodríguez, president of the National Assembly, echoed these concerns, urging the international community to help restrain what he described as escalating US aggression. He also accused US forces of lethal actions in the Caribbean under the pretext of anti-narcotics operations, claiming Venezuelan lives had been lost.

Rodríguez announced that the National Assembly will convene an extraordinary session to address the issue, noting that lawmakers have already met with families of individuals allegedly killed during US military operations since early September.