Venezuela’s commercial airport to reopen weeks after Maduro attack, Trump says – National
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he told Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, that he will open all trade areas in Venezuela and Americans will be able to visit soon.
Trump said he had ordered US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and US military leaders to reopen the airport by the end of the day.
“American citizens will soon be able to travel to Venezuela, and they will be safe there,” the Republican president said.
The Venezuelan government did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration informed Congress that it is taking the first steps to reopen the US Embassy in Venezuela as it considers restoring relations with the South American country following the US military invasion that toppled then-President Nicolás Maduro.
In a notice to lawmakers Monday and obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, the State Department said it is deploying a regular and growing contingent of part-time workers to perform “selective” diplomatic duties.
“We are writing to inform the committee of the State Department’s intent to use a phased approach to reopening the Embassy Caracas,” the department said in separate but identical letters to 10 House and Senate committees.
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Political relations between the two countries collapsed in 2019, and the US State Department warned Americans not to travel to Venezuela, raising its travel advisory to the highest level.
The State Department on Thursday raised its travel advisory for Venezuela to its highest level, “Do Not Travel,” warning that Americans face a high risk of arbitrary arrest, torture, kidnapping and more.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a message Thursday asking if it was changing its warning.
In November, as Trump increased pressure on Maduro, he announced that the airspace “up and around” Venezuela should be considered “totally closed.”
The US Federal Aviation Administration, which has general jurisdiction over the US and its territories, then told pilots to be careful flying around the country because of the military buildup.
Following that FAA warning, international airlines began canceling flights to Venezuela due to the military escalation.
American Airlines, which was the last US airline to fly to Venezuela when it grounded flights there in March 2019, announced on Thursday that it intends to restore non-stop service there from the US in the coming months.
“We have more than 30 years of history connecting Venezuelans with the US, and we are ready to renew that wonderful relationship,” said Nat Pieper, US trade chief, in a statement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will give customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and trade with the United States.”
American said it will share more details about the return to operations in the coming months as it works with federal authorities on safety inspections and necessary permits.
AP reporters Matthew Lee in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
