MSGID: 2:292/854 142c1864
TZUTC: 0200
Three airlines have canceled flights from Venezuela after the US warned on
Friday of "potentially dangerous situations" on flights over the country,
particularly over the capital's region and the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela.
 
Portugal's TAP, Colombia's Avianca, and Brazil's Gol canceled flights from
Caracas International Airport on Saturday. Spain's Iberia did depart a plane
from Simon Bolivar Maiquetia International Airport on Saturday, but has
canceled all flights to Venezuela until further notice.
 
US forces, including large naval vessels, are active in the Caribbean Sea,
reportedly hunting drug smugglers. The US government claims to be at war with
drug criminals and holds Venezuela responsible for drug trafficking to the US.
Caracas Airport is located on the Caribbean Sea, approximately 10 kilometers
from Caracas.
 
According to observers, the large military presence in the southern Caribbean
is primarily motivated by Washington's desire to overthrow the regime of
President Nicolás Maduro. The US does not recognize him as head of state, but
considers him a fugitive drug lord. Reuters reports that anonymous US
officials have said the Trump administration wants to begin "a new phase of
operations related to Venezuela" in the coming days.
 
Developments in the region are being closely monitored in Aruba, Bonaire, and
Curaçao.

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