President Donald Trump announced on Saturday (29th) that he would completely close the airspace over and around Venezuela.

"To all airlines, pilots, and drug traffickers and human traffickers, please consider the full closure of airspace over and around Venezuela," Trump said in a post on Truth Social early Saturday morning.

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of a "potentially dangerous situation" for major airlines flying over Venezuela due to the country's "deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in and around the country."

Following the U.S. FAA's warning, the Venezuelan government revoked the operating licenses of six major international airlines that had suspended flights to the country.

President Trump reportedly had a recent phone call with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. During the call, both sides discussed the possibility of a face-to-face meeting, even as Washington intensifies its military and diplomatic pressure on Caracas.

Sources told The New York Times that the conversation, which took place just before the weekend, included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and occurred just before the State Department's designation of Maduro as the head of the foreign terrorist organization "Cartel de los Soles" (Cartel of the Suns) took effect.

Reports emerged that Maduro was warned of escalating U.S. military action if he did not leave Caracas in the short term, but the White House denied this, calling it "fabricated."

While the leaders of both countries discussed the possibility of meeting in the United States, no concrete plans have been established at this time.

The call came amid a significant buildup of U.S. military power in the Caribbean region. Officials stated the deployment was intended to deter drug trafficking, but also hinted at the potential use of force, publicly calling for Maduro's removal.

The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes for months against vessels believed to be drug-carrying ships in the Caribbean, and along with the military buildup in the region, President Trump has authorized secret CIA operations within Venezuela.

The President told military officials this week that the U.S. would begin ground operations "very soon" to intercept suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.

The Trump administration has accused President Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking, a charge Maduro has denied.

Maduro, who has been in power since 2013, has stated that President Trump is trying to oust him and that the Venezuelan people and military will resist such attempts.

U.S. military forces stationed in the region have so far focused on drug interdiction operations, but the firepower deployed far exceeds what is necessary for such missions.

Since September, there have been at least 21 airstrikes against suspected drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing at least 83 people.

U.S. NNP=Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special Dispatch NNP info@newsandpost.com