Trump says he’ll reopen Venezuelan airspace for business journey

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump stated Thursday he has knowledgeable Venezuela’s appearing president, Delcy Rodríguez, that he’ll open up all business airspace over Venezuela and Americans will quickly be capable to go to.

Trump stated he instructed his transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, and U.S. army leaders to take steps to open the airspace for journey by the tip of the day.

“American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there,” the Republican president stated.

Venezuela’s authorities didn’t instantly remark.

While the State Department continued warning Americans in opposition to touring to Venezuela, a minimum of one U.S. airline introduced its intention to renew direct flights between the international locations quickly.

American Airlines was the final U.S. airline flying to Venezuela when in 2019 it suspended flights between Miami and the capital, Caracas, in addition to the oil hub metropolis of Maracaibo. The airline stated Thursday it could share further particulars concerning the return to service within the coming months as it really works with federal authorities on safety assessments and mandatory permissions.

“We have a more than 30-year history connecting Venezolanos to the U.S., and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” Nat Pieper, American’s chief business officer, stated in an announcement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the United States.”

Before Venezuela got here undone within the mid-2010s, it was not unusual for Venezuelans to take weekend leisure journeys to Miami. U.S. airways stopped flying to Venezuela earlier than the Department of Homeland Security in 2019 ordered an indefinite suspension, arguing that circumstances in Venezuela threatened the “safety and security of passengers, aircraft, and crew.”

Earlier this week, Trump’s administration notified Congress that it was taking the primary steps to probably reopen the shuttered U.S. Embassy in Caracas because it explores restoring relations with the nation after the U.S. military raid that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro. In a notice to lawmakers dated Monday and obtained by The Associated Press, the State Department said it was sending in a regular and growing contingent of temporary staffers to conduct “select” diplomatic functions.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries collapsed in 2019.

Even as Trump suggested Americans will be safe in Venezuela, his State Department kept in place its highest-level travel advisory: “Do not travel,” a warning of a high risk of wrongful detention, torture, kidnapping and more.

The department did not immediately respond to a message inquiring whether it would be changing that warning.

In November, as Trump was ramping up pressure on Maduro, the American president said the airspace “above and surrounding” Venezuela should be considered as “closed in its entirety.”

The Federal Aviation Administration, which has jurisdiction generally over the United States and its territories, told pilots to be cautious flying around Venezuela because of heightened military activity.

After that FAA warning, international airlines began canceling flights to Venezuela.

The FAA issued a similar 60-day warning in January, urging U.S. aircraft operators to “exercise caution” when flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. The warning was issued after Maduro’s capture but as the U.S. threatened to continue military strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the area.

The FAA on Thursday said it was lifting four Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for the region that it said were “issued as precautionary measures and are no longer necessary.”

“Safety remains our top priority,” the FAA said in a statement, “And we look forward to facilitating the return of regular travel between the U.S. and Venezuela.”

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Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, and AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.