People waiting at the arrivals gate in Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, in Maiquetía, La Guaira state, Venezuela. Photo: Miguel Gutiérrez/EFE.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated Monday that Venezuela will not be defeated by the psychological warfare that US imperialism is carrying out in an attempt to generate unrest in the country.
“For how long will they lie?” asked the president during broadcast of Con Maduro+. “For how long will they conspire? No psychological warfare will stop Venezuela; we defeated them in the psychological war and the economic war. Venezuela is moving forward.”
The statement comes after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory Saturday urging commercial flights to “exercise extreme caution” when overflying Venezuelan airspace. This warning, which cites a “deterioration of the security situation” and increased military activity, was seen by many as part of Washington’s psychological campaign against Venezuela or as evidence of an imminent military escalation.
The FAA’s announcement came just days after US President Donald Trump reiterated his willingness to open diplomatic channels with President Maduro despite initially rejecting the Venezuelan president’s calls for a dialogue that respects Venezuela’s democratic path and its authorities.
Some analysts claim that Trump’s statements should be taken with a “grain of salt,” noting his history of misinformation, especially during US military actions such as the recent attack on Iran, which occurred in the midst of discussions between the two countries regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
However, other analysts argue that the US strategy of provoking a military coup or anti-Chavista protests to force regime change has failed and will not work, which explains Trump’s alleged shift in approach.
The FAA warning covers the Flight Information Region (FIR) at Venezuela’s Maiquetía International Airport, an extensive low-altitude airspace that includes areas of the southern and eastern Caribbean. The alert underscores that the “potentially hazardous situation” could pose a risk to civilian aircraft at all altitudes during overflight and during arrivals and departures at regional airports.
Maduro called on the Minister of Transportation, Ramón Velásquez, to enforce the nation’s regulations in response to reports of some of international flight cancellations.
“Anyone who breaks the rules will face the law,” said the president. “Let the law guarantee the right to air services,” he added.
Meeting with air carriers
The main national and international airlines operating in Venezuela met Monday at the headquarters of the National Institute of Civil Aeronautics (INAC) with Minister Velásquez and other aeronautical authorities to coordinate actions to ensure the continuity and normality of air transport.
Representatives of local and international airlines reported operational normality and a willingness to continue operations in Venezuela under the current circumstances while seeking solutions to bottlenecks created by the US FAA notice.
From Saturday to Tuesday, some 33 international operations were suspended, according to EFE. Following a warning from Enaire, Spain’s public air navigation management company, most airlines covering that route canceled their flights.
According to EFE, the Venezuelan government warned that airlines that have canceled their flights have until 12:00 local time on Wednesday to resume operations, otherwise their “permanent flight” permits will be revoked.
“The Venezuelan state has taken a stand with the airlines and will take the corresponding actions. They have less than 24 hours left,” a source from the Ministry of Transportation allegedly said.
For the time being, Copa, Wingo, Boliviana de Aviación, and Satena, as well as the Venezuelan state airline Conviasa, are maintaining their international operations in Venezuela, while all local carriers are operating without interruptions. Among the airlines that have cancelled their routes are the Spanish carriers Iberia, Air Europa, and Plus Ultra, as well as TAP, Avianca, Latam, Turkish Airlines, and GOL.
Campaign of fake news
For weeks, social media platforms have launched a fake news campaign in support of the US military attacks on Venezuelan civilians. Rumors of President Maduro and high-ranking Venezuelan officials living in a bunker or escaping to Cuba or Nicaragua can be seen by the hundreds every day on social media platforms. The US FAA announcement added to the campaign, with unverified reports of an alleged suspension of air services in Venezuela.
The US measure was questioned by the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who said: “There must be normal flights to all Latin American countries from Latin America and the rest of the world. Countries should not be blockaded because that would be blocking entire populations and that should be considered a crime against humanity.”
Cabello’s statements
Tuesday, the secretary general of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Cabello, stated that the Venezuelan people, its government, and the Venezuelan military are “more united than ever” and emphasized that those who intend to attack Venezuela on its territory will be “annihilated.” He made the statement during a large demonstration in Caracas celebrating the Venezuelan flag and the legacy of Simón Bolívar.
“To pretend that this country is going to surrender, is going to be afraid, is ignorant of the history of Venezuela, ignorant of what we are made of, ignorant of what Venezuelan women are made of, ignorant of the struggles we have had for more than 500 years and with whom we have fought, ignorant of the fact that we have defeated them all,” he said, noting that “Venezuela does not attack anyone, it is a country of peace, of tranquility—it is a country that is in solidarity with the rest of the countries of the world.”
US Advisory for Commercial Flights to Venezuela Raises Tensions Amid US Invasion Threats
However, he added that “when it comes to defending what is ours, we will do so with every instrument at our disposal, and let it be known that anyone who tries to do anything against Venezuela and sets foot on our territory, which is a forbidden zone for them, will be defended against with whatever we have.”
“Anyone who dares to set foot on Venezuela will be annihilated by our people,” continued Cabello. “Annihilated is the term I want to use. Because Venezuelan soil is to be respected, and Marco Rubio’s delusions of conquering us will be shattered here, just like the delusions of many clowns who have had the audacity to interfere in Venezuela.”
The mass mobilization, which was joined by President Maduro, demonstrated the high level of cohesion and popular support for the Venezuelan government—support that has only solidified as a result of the disproportionate US military threats and psychological warfare against the Venezuelan people.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
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