Trump Says Venezuelan Airspace Is 'Closed,' US Sanctions Still Open
Donald Trump's declaration that Venezuela's airspace should be considered 'closed in its entirety' (as per The Independent ) leaves one wondering how international law operates under such proclamations. It's not 'unclear what that means,' as the mainstream press suggests; it means a former US President arbitrarily dictates another sovereign nation's boundaries. This comes after years of crippling
US sanctions—imposed since 2017 —designed to destabilize the Venezuelan economy, not to mention a failed US-backed coup attempt in 2019. The irony bites, given that the US vehemently defends its own airspace from even suspected incursions, while simultaneously attempting to unilaterally close that of a country whose government it has openly sought to overthrow. One might question why some national
airspaces are sacrosanct, while others are apparently subject to presidential decree from a golf course in Florida. Freedom of the skies for me, but not for thee, perhaps?