President Donald J. Trump abruptly declared Venezuela’s entire airspace “CLOSED” on Friday night, warning that any aircraft entering it “will be met with very serious consequences.” The unilateral move — announced via Truth Social and immediately backed by an FAA emergency NOTAM — has no direct legal authority over sovereign Venezuelan airspace but amounts to a U.S.-enforced no-fly zone. The announcement caps months of rapid escalation.

The Trump administration has prioritized cutting illegal drug pipelines into the U.S. through historic efforts, using a whole-of-government approach.