American warning to civilian aircraft in the sky of Venezuela
Amid rising tensions, Washington warned civilian aircraft over Venezuela of military risks.
US aviation officials on Friday issued a warning to civilian aircraft flying over Venezuela, citing what they called possible dangers from “increased military activity” in the Caribbean amid a US troop build-up.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urged civilian aircraft in Venezuelan airspace to exercise “caution” due to the “deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in or around Venezuela.”
“These threats can pose a poteial risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during the flight, approach and departure phases, and/or to airports and aircraft on the ground,” the aviation body added.
The developme came hours after Venezuelan Preside Nicolas Maduro ordered the military, Bolivarian armed groups and members of the Popular Defense Forces to protect critical sites in his coury, such as oil, gas and electricity facilities, amid reports of possible US military action against Venezuela.
Maduro’s declaration of readiness
In statemes broadcast on state media, Maduro accused the US Ceral Ielligence Agency (CIA) of trying to carry out a plot to sabotage the coury’s strategic facilities in order to damage Venezuela’s economy.
Earlier, the Venezuelan preside expressed his desire to talk with his American couerpart, Donald Trump. He had previously announced the mobilization of 4.5 million soldiers in this coury and his readiness to repel any attack.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking operation that smuggles drugs io the United States. American media reports show that Trump has received plans from military leaders and that his administration is seeking regime change in Venezuela.
The warning to civilian aircraft comes just days before the US placed an alleged drug cartel on a “terrorist” list, a move that some believe signals military action against his governme, Al Jazeera reported.
America’s tension in the Caribbean
The United States has assembled a significa force in the Caribbean near Venezuela, including its most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, and other warships. The aircraft carrier USS Ford has marked the largest conceration of American firepower in this region in generations. With the arrival of this ship, Operation Southern Spear now includes approximately 12 warships and approximately 12,000 sailors and marines.
In rece weeks, U.S. forces have carried out airstrikes against boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, allegedly for drug trafficking. However, Washington has not provided a docume of its claim and the Caribbean couries accuse Washington of violating their air and water rights.
Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out raids on more than 20 ships allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean, killing more than 80 people. The deaths of several people, including fishermen, in the US raids have sparked coroversy in the iernational community over extrajudicial killings.
Last August, Trump issued an executive order authorizing more use of the military, ostensibly under the pretext of fighting drug cartels in Latin America.
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