By Anietie anii-bassey
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has instructed his administration to open all commercial airspace over Venezuela, saying that American citizens “very shortly” will be able to travel there and be safe, marking a major shift in U.S. policy toward Caracas following a dramatic change in the political landscape.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said he had informed Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez of the decision and directed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy along with military leaders to complete the process by the end of the day. The president emphasized that reopening the airspace would restore a key link between the United States and Venezuela that has been closed for years.
“American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” Trump declared, underscoring what he described as a new chapter in bilateral relations.
The move comes amid broader efforts by the U.S. government to re-engage with Venezuela following significant developments earlier this year, including a U.S. military operation that ousted former President Nicolás Maduro from power and raised questions about the future of diplomatic ties.
While Venezuela’s government has not immediately responded to the announcement, the reopening of airspace is expected to facilitate increased travel and commerce.
American commercial flights to Venezuela were suspended in 2019 after diplomatic relations deteriorated and the U.S. government warned against travel to the country. The U.S. State Department continues to maintain its highest-level travel advisory for Venezuela, citing risks such as wrongful detention, kidnapping and other security concerns for Americans.
Despite the advisory, major U.S. carriers are already preparing to resume service. American Airlines said Thursday that it plans to reinstate nonstop flights between the United States and Venezuela in the coming months, contingent on obtaining necessary government approvals and completing security assessments.
The airline highlighted its more than three decades of history connecting the two nations and noted that resuming flights will allow families and businesses to reunite across borders.
The announcement reflects a broader recalibration of U.S.-Venezuelan relations. Earlier in the week, the Trump administration notified Congress of its intent to potentially reopen the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and restore select diplomatic operations, signaling a phased approach to reestablishing a presence that was shuttered years ago.
Trump’s decision to lift restrictions on Venezuelan airspace follows months of fluctuating policy. In November, as tensions escalated, he declared that the airspace “should be considered closed in its entirety,” a statement that impacted international flight operations and prompted airlines to reroute or cancel services.
Opening the skies to commercial travel is likely to have implications beyond tourism, potentially contributing to broader economic engagement and people-to-people exchanges after years of isolation. However, the persistence of a high travel advisory means that many Americans may still face cautionary guidance from the U.S. government even as flights resume.
As Trump’s administration moves forward with these changes, officials in both countries will be watching closely to see how expanded travel, diplomatic shifts and evolving security assessments shape the future of U.S.-Venezuela relations.
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