Venezuela has revoked flight permits for six international airlines, accusing them of "joining terrorist actions" promoted by the United States. In response, airlines have begun mass-canceling flights to the country. Amid the aviation chaos, a second plane this week arrived in Venezuela with deportees from the US. Concurrently, the US has deployed its largest military presence in the Caribbean since the Gulf War and begun installing a new radar on the island of Trinidad, just 11 km from Venezuela's coast. These events are unfolding amid reports of a possible phone call between the US and Venezuelan presidents, Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro, to discuss a potential meeting.
Venezuela's National Institute of Civil Aviation revoked the concession for airlines Iberia, TAP, Avianca, Latam Colombia, Turkish Airlines, and Gol, accusing them of "joining the terrorist actions" promoted by the United States. This decision led Avianca to suspend sales and operations to Venezuela, while Air Europa canceled its scheduled flights from Madrid to Caracas.
At the center of this crisis is Maiquetía International Airport, serving Caracas. Despite the cancellations, official routes to Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Curaçao, Cuba, and other countries remain active. The Venezuelan state airline Conviasa also continues to operate flights to China, Russia, and Cuba.
While the aviation chaos escalates, a plane with 136 deportees from the US arrived in Venezuela. This is the second such repatriation flight this week.
"The US will act very soon," Donald Trump warned, threatening military action against "Venezuelan drug traffickers." The US has reportedly deployed the largest naval presence in the Caribbean in its history since the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
As part of this military build-up, the US Army is installing a new radar in Trinidad. According to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the radar will monitor activities in the region, and she herself has refuted claims that her country is serving as a "base for any war against Venezuela."
All these events are unfolding after a report by The New York Times about a phone call between Trump and Maduro, which has revived questions about the future of Venezuela. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a critic of the Maduro government, also participated in the call, but the two leaders did not reach concrete agreements for a meeting.
