President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed in its entirety.
The declaration came in a post on his Truth Social platform, addressed to airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers.
This move follows a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warning last week about a potentially hazardous situation in Venezuelan airspace due to worsening security and heightened military activity.
In response to the FAA advisory, six major international airlines suspended flights to Venezuela, prompting Caracas to revoke their operating rights.
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, a charge he has denied.
U.S. forces have conducted at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific since September, resulting in at least 83 deaths.
Trump has authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela and told military service members this week that land operations to stop suspected drug traffickers would begin very soon.
The U.S. has deployed an aircraft carrier to the Caribbean amid a massive military buildup in the region.
Senior U.S. officials have escalated rhetoric against Maduro, offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest and designating the so-called Cartel de los Soles, allegedly linked to him, as a terrorist organization.
Venezuela's communications ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment on Trump's post.
The U.S. Defense Department and White House also provided no immediate response or further details.
Maduro has stated that the U.S. is seeking to oust him and that Venezuelans and the military will resist any such attempt.
Experts have warned that Washington's actions appear to lay groundwork for removing Maduro from power, with United Nations observers describing the boat strikes as extrajudicial killings.
A former U.S. ambassador to Venezuela noted that the announcement increases pressure on Maduro to leave office.
Analysts have raised concerns that air isolation could prevent entry of medicine and essential supplies, limiting citizens' travel even for emergencies.
Reports indicate Trump spoke with Maduro last week about a possible meeting, though no plans exist.
Enforcing such an airspace closure would require significant resources, raising questions about implementation.