WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – On Saturday, President Donald Trump declared that the airspace over Venezuela should be regarded as entirely “closed,” a statement that further intensified discussions regarding U.S. efforts to challenge Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Despite the significance of Trump’s assertion on his Truth Social account, the White House remained silent, leaving uncertainty about whether this marked a shift in policy or was simply a continuation of his stance against Maduro. This campaign has seen U.S. forces targeting small vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean, accused of drug trafficking, which has resulted in over 80 fatalities since September. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in naval presence in the area.

Trump’s proclamation, seemingly directed at “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” rather than at Maduro himself, coincides with international airlines beginning to cancel flights to Venezuela. This follows a caution from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advising pilots to exercise vigilance in the area due to increased military operations.

Typically, the FAA’s remit is confined to the U.S. and its territories. However, the agency frequently issues warnings to pilots about navigating airspaces affected by military activities or conflicts worldwide, as it recently did concerning Venezuela. The FAA collaborates with global partners and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on international aviation matters, though both entities did not immediately comment on Trump’s statement.

The Trump administration has consistently escalated its pressure on Maduro, whom the U.S. does not recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader. Maduro is also facing narcoterrorism charges in the United States. As the situation unfolds, the U.S. continues to challenge his authority over the nation rich in oil yet plagued by economic hardship.

U.S. forces have conducted bomber flights near Venezuela and the USS Gerald R. Ford, America’s most advanced aircraft carrier, was sent to the area. The Ford rounds off the largest buildup of U.S. firepower in the region in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear” mission includes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines.

Trump’s team has weighed both military and nonmilitary options with Venezuela, including covert action by the CIA.

Trump has publicly floated the idea of talking to Maduro. The New York Times reported Friday that Trump and Maduro had spoken. The White House declined to answer questions about the conversation.

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Associated Press writer Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed to this report.