Donald Trump says Venezuela airspace 'closed' as all-out war fears grow

Donald Trump has declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela 'closed in its entirety' in the latest escalation of tensions between the two countries

Donald Trump has declared the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela "closed in its entirety" as fears of armed conflict grow.

Trump, in a Truth Social post said: “To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.”

The President's claim comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned major airlines of a "potentially hazardous situation" when flying over Venezuela due to a "worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around" the country.

Rising tensions between the two countries come amid a US military build-up off South America and a series of US military strikes targeting vessels in international waters off Venezuela and Colombia that have killed at least 83 people.

The US has alleged that the boats it bombed were transporting drugs. Latin American leaders, international law experts and family members of the deceased, as well as some members of the US Congress, have described the US attacks as extrajudicial killings, claiming most of those killed were fishermen.

Fears are now growing that Trump will use the military deployment in the region – which includes thousands of US troops, a nuclear submarine and a group of warships accompanying the USS Gerald R Ford – to launch an attack on Venezuela in a bid to oust President Nicolas Maduro.

The US has accused Maduro of drug trafficking, while the Venezuelan president has accused the US government of “fabricating a new eternal war” against him.

Maduro has said the US is increasing its "excuses and lies" to try and justify intervention in his country.