UN experts expressed their deep concern over the growing pressure from the United States on Venezuela, particularly following the recent declaration by President Donald Trump that Venezuela's airspace should be considered closed.
"International law is clear: States have full and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above their territory," the experts stated.
They described Trump's statement as a "potentially dangerous situation" in the skies over Venezuela, citing "deteriorating security" and "increasing military activity" that could threaten aircraft at all altitudes.
"The latest declaration represents a dangerous escalation, following the significant increase in U.S. troops in the Caribbean and other recent announcements by the U.S. President about potential operations on Venezuelan territory, after a series of lethal operations by U.S. forces targeting vessels off the coast," the experts said.
"The U.S. military attacks, directed at presumed drug traffickers at sea, which have killed more than 80 civilians in 21 attacks, are grave violations of the right to life and international law of the sea," they added.
The experts urged the United States to refrain from actions that could further aggravate the situation and to ensure that any measures taken fully comply with the UN Charter, the Chicago Convention, and relevant norms of customary international law.
"The long history of external interventions in Latin America must not be repeated," the experts said.
They stressed that, despite the President's statement, the United States has no legal authority to 'close' the airspace of another State. The experts also recalled that the UN Charter prohibits "the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State" (Article 2).
"Unilateral measures that interfere with a State's territorial domain, including its airspace, risk completely disrupting the stability of the region and are severely damaging Venezuela's economy," they said.
"Respect for sovereignty, non-intervention, and the peaceful settlement of disputes are essential to preserve international stability and prevent the situation from deteriorating further."
The experts highlighted that six international airlines had already suspended flights to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, following a warning from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
