Multiple international airlines canceled flights to Venezuela over the weekend after the Federal Aviation Administration warned of a "worsening security situation" in the South American country amid a U.S. military buildup in the region.
The big picture: The FAA, in a Friday NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) warning of "heightened military activity" in the region, has seen at least six airlines cancel flights, Marisela de Loaiza, president of the Airlines Association in Venezuela (ALAV), told media Sunday.
- The Trump administration has stepped up diplomatic and military pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, sending the world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to join other U.S. military forces in the Caribbean Sea near the country.
- U.S. forces have for weeks struck alleged drug boats in the region amid a goal to topple Maduro, who has a $50 million bounty on his head for alleged drug trafficking.
State of play: LATAM, Caribbean, Iberia, Turkish Airlines, Avianca and TAP have all suspended flights, according to the ALAV chief.
- Loaiza didn't say how long the flights would be suspended for, but Turkish Airlines confirmed in a statement that its planes would not fly to the region from Sunday through Friday.
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom the U.S. has sanctioned, said on X Sunday there "must be normal flights to all countries in Latin America from Latin America and the world."
- He added: "Countries are not blocked, because blocking countries means blocking people, and that is a crime against humanity. No state of one country should interfere in the affairs of another state."
- The Pentagon deferred to the White House and FAA for comment. Neither immediately responded to Axios' Sunday evening request for comment.
Go deeper: What to know about the military forces Trump is assembling near Venezuela
