U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Friday that airspace “above and surrounding Venezuela” should be considered closed. He issued the declaration on his Truth Social account, but gave no further details as Washington ramps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump wrote. “Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The comment comes as the Trump administration has intensified military operations in the Caribbean as part of what they call an expanded campaign to target the smuggling of drugs into the United States.

Last week, the U.S. aviation regulator warned major airlines of a “pote

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