The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to order the reopening of Venezuelan airspace represents another step toward easing tensions between his administration and the South American country, after months of restrictions imposed amid a sharp political and military escalation between Washington and Caracas, which ended with the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The measure opens the door to the eventual return of commercial flights and the gradual restoration of human, economic, and diplomatic connections between the two countries.
The announcement comes in a context that is still being reshaped, marked by recent military operations, changes in Venezuela’s power structure, and a gradual process of rebuilding bilateral relations that had remained frozen for years. Analysts warn that, although the gesture is important, full normalization will depend on security, diplomatic, and political stability factors on the ground.
US moves to reopen Venezuelan airspace after months of restrictions
Trump publicly confirmed that he instructed his administration to reopen Venezuelan commercial airspace after holding talks with the Venezuelan political authority, led by President Delcy Rodriguez, in what he described as a step toward resuming travel and bilateral interaction.
“I just spoke with the president of Venezuela and informed her that we are going to open all commercial airspace over Venezuela,” Trump said during a meeting with his Cabinet at the White House. According to him, he ordered Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and military commanders to ensure that “no later than the end of today, the airspace over Venezuela is open and that planes can fly to Venezuela.”
The president said the reopening would allow U.S. citizens to travel back to the South American country in the short term and under security conditions that, according to his administration, have improved. “U.S. citizens will be able to go to Venezuela very soon, and they will be safe there,” he said. “People who used to live in Venezuela, some want to return, and others want to visit, and they will be able to do so,” he added.
This move is also interpreted as part of a broader attempt to rebuild political and operational ties between the two countries after years of diplomatic rupture and sanctions. U.S. officials have indicated that the reopening could be accompanied by parallel steps such as the gradual resumption of diplomatic activity in Caracas.
We’ve got this, Mr. President. We are clearing the way for travel between the United States and Venezuela 🇺🇸🇻🇪 https://t.co/3JUBTBzNgC
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) January 29, 2026
Three months of Venezuelan airspace closure
The airspace closure had been announced in November of last year as part of a hardening of U.S. policy toward Venezuela. At the time, the measure was justified on aviation safety grounds and within the framework of tensions stemming from the political and military confrontation between the two countries.
Subsequently, broader restrictions in the Caribbean and Venezuela were imposed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration following military operations on Venezuelan territory, forcing the cancellation or rerouting of multiple commercial flights and affecting regional connectivity.
During that period, air restrictions became one of the most visible symbols of the deterioration of bilateral relations, which since 2019 had already been marked by economic sanctions, diplomatic disputes, and mobility restrictions.
The reopening could translate, in the medium term, into the resumption of commercial routes suspended for years. Some airlines have already expressed interest in resuming operations to Venezuela, although conditioned on security assessments and regulatory approvals.
The return of commercial flights would have significant economic and social implications. Air connectivity would facilitate the movement of travelers with family, commercial, or humanitarian ties, in addition to helping reactivate the tourism sector and part of Venezuela’s service economy.
Balances between Caracas and Washington to rebuild relations
However, experts note that normalization will be gradual. U.S. authorities continue to maintain warnings about security risks in Venezuela, which could limit the pace of route reopening and the confidence of private operators.
Beyond the aviation sphere, the measure is interpreted as an indicator of geopolitical reconfiguration. The reopening of airspace is seen as a gesture that could facilitate energy, commercial, and diplomatic agreements between Washington and Caracas, in an international context where access to energy resources and regional stability have gained strategic importance.
The decision also comes after recent political and military changes in Venezuela, which have altered the internal landscape and relations with the United States, opening a window for negotiations that until recently seemed unviable.
Despite the announcement, the full return of commercial flights could take months, as aviation authorities must assess technical and operational risks, including navigation interference or the presence of military activity in some areas of the Caribbean and Latin America.
In addition, the air reopening does not automatically imply a total normalization of relations. Big political differences and security concerns persist, suggesting that the process will be gradual and subject to adjustments depending on how the situation on the ground evolves.
In strategic terms, Trump’s order represents one of the most visible moves toward a possible new phase in the relationship between the United States and Venezuela. Although still surrounded by uncertainty, the decision symbolizes the beginning of a process that could redefine the political and economic balance in the Caribbean and northern South America in the coming years.