US Warns Venezuela of ‘Military Activity,’ Then Complains When Venezuela Responds
Venezuela has grounded flights for several European airlines, including Iberia and TAP, after those carriers paused service following US warnings of 'heightened military activity.' This comes after the FAA issued a NOTAM in 2019, prohibiting US air operators from flying below 26,000 feet over Venezuela, citing 'political instability and increased tensions.' Washington, of course, frames this as a
necessary precaution against a rogue state, not a direct consequence of its own relentless pressure campaigns and destabilization efforts. (But which military activity, exactly, provoked this?) One might wonder if these airlines, operating under the implicit umbrella of US-European political alliance, were really just expressing 'concern' or performing choreographed compliance. The US has
continuously imposed sanctions on Venezuela since 2015, targeting its oil industry, financial institutions, and government officials. To then express surprise when Venezuela takes its own sovereign actions (even if reactive) is less about genuine concern for air safety and more about maintaining the narrative of an unpredictable, dangerous regime. It's a classic power play: provoke, then complain
about the reaction. How many 'escalations' are actually self-fulfilling prophecies?