Trump says Venezuela airspace will fully reopen, allowing visits

President Trump said he ordered his team to reopen airspace over Venezuela on Thursday, four weeks after the U.S. raid to capture strongman Nicolas Maduro and several years after commercial airlines paused direct flights to the South American country.

Mr. Trump, speaking to his Cabinet, said he informed acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez of his decision shortly before the meeting. 

“We’re going to be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela,” he said. “American citizens will be very shortly able to go to Venezuela, and they’ll be safe there. It’s under very strong control.”

The president told Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to ensure that airspace was open by the end of the day.

The U.S. paused commercial travel to Venezuela in 2019 due to concerns about political instability in the country and airlines’ concerns about security in Venezuela.

Mr. Trump said some Venezuelans in the U.S. want to return to their home country or simply want to visit.

“And they’re going to be able to do that,” he said.

The U.S. military captured Mr. Maduro on Jan. 3 and flew him to New York to face narco-terrorism charges.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued emergency NOTAMs (Notices to Air Missions) to close additional airspace within 100 miles of Venezuela during the raid, affecting flights in the Caribbean region.

It will likely take airlines weeks to resume direct flights to Venezuela, though there might be immediate changes. For instance, planes may resume flying over Venezuela instead of taking lengthy detours around the country.

The Trump administration is relying on Ms. Rodriguez, a former vice president to Mr. Maduro, to guide the country through its transition to a freer and more democratic nation. 

“I want to thank the leadership of Venezuela. We’re getting along really well with them,” Mr. Trump said. “The relationships have been very strong, very good.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Congress on Wednesday that Venezuela’s leaders will submit regular budgets to the U.S. so the administration can track how it’s using its revenue, notably from oil.

In a positive sign, Mr. Rubio said Venezuela’s government is committed to using revenue to buy crucial medicine for its people.

Mr. Trump is keeping close tabs on Venezuelan oil reserves and facilitating the reentry of U.S. oil companies to the country.

“We have the major oil companies going to Venezuela now, scouting it out and picking their locations,” he said. “They’ll be bringing back tremendous wealth for Venezuela and for the United States, and the oil companies will do fine, too.”