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American president Donald Trump said Thursday that he had informed Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, that he would open all commercial airspace over Venezuela and the Americans will soon be able to visit it.
Trump said he had directed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and U.S. military leaders to open airspace by the end of the day.
“American citizens will very soon be able to go to Venezuela and be safe there,” the Republican president said.
The Venezuelan government did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration notified Congress that it was taking the first steps to possibly reopen the shuttered US embassy in Venezuela as it explores rebuilding relations with the South American country following the US military strike that ousted then-President Nicolás Maduro.
In a notice to lawmakers Monday, obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, the State Department said it is sending a regular and growing contingent of temporary staff to perform “selected” diplomatic functions.
“We are writing to inform the committee of the State Department’s intent to implement a phased approach to the potential resumption of the Embassy in Caracas,” the department said in separate but identical letters to 10 House and Senate committees.
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Diplomatic 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 still listed its highest-level travel advisory for Venezuela, “Do Not Travel,” warning that Americans face a high risk of illegal detention, 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 stepped up pressure on Maduro, he said airspace “over and around” Venezuela should be considered “completely closed.”
The US Federal Aviation Administration, which generally has jurisdiction over the US and its territories, then told pilots to be cautious while flying across the country due to heightened military activity.
Following that FAA warning, international airlines began canceling flights to Venezuela due to increased military activity.
American Airlines, which was the last US airline to fly to Venezuela when it suspended flights there in March 2019, announced on Thursday that it intends to re-establish direct service there from the US in the coming months.
“We have more than 30 years of history connecting Venezuelans with the U.S. and we are ready to renew that incredible relationship,” Nat Pieper, U.S. chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with their families and create new business and trade with the United States.”
American said it will share additional details about the return to service in the coming months as it works with federal authorities on safety assessments and necessary permits.
AP reporters Matthew Lee in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela contributed to this report.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
