STORY: Residents in Caracas said it was 'unfair' after U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Saturday (November 29) that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered 'closed in its entirety'.

The move that added ambiguity to escalating tensions between Washington and President Nicolas Maduro's government. U.S. officials contacted by Reuters were surprised by Trump's announcement and unaware of any ongoing U.S. military operations to enforce a closure of Venezuelan airspace.

The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment and the White House did not provide any further explanation.

In the city, residents found themselves divided over how to interpret the escalating tensions. While some condemned the situation as 'unfair' and said their overseas relatives will not be able to visit for Christmas, others said they will make do with the situation.

The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro's role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. The socialist Venezuelan president has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.

Reuters has reported that options under U.S. consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro, and that the U.S. military is poised for a new phase of operations after a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela's coast. Trump has also authorized covert CIA operations in the South American country.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 29, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF CITY VIEWS

2. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON THE STREETS

3. BILLBOARD SHOWING VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO WITH TEXT READING (Spanish):

"Let's go for more, always with the people."

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KITCHEN ASSISTANT, MANUEL ROMERO, SAYING:

"I think it's unfair because there are people who need to travel for work, business, to see our family, and we Venezuelans are not to blame for these situations. We are the ones who pay the consequences for the things that are happening."

5. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET

6. VARIOUS OF LAWYER, CARMEN CASTILLO, SITTING IN PUBLIC SQUARE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LAWYER, CARMEN CASTILLO, SAYING:

"It affects us a lot because at least many people who were abroad, who were going to spend Christmas with their families here, can no longer do so, and many people who were going to visit their families abroad cannot do so either, so we are locked up here in Caracas, in Venezuela, of course it affects us."

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON STREETS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENDOR, INGRID BLANCO, SAYING:

"It doesn't affect anything, because if at least the people who are going to come, like my daughter, they come, they stay in Cucuta (the border), and then they come if they are going to enter (Venezuela). There is a little fear there, in that particular matter, that something might happen to her during that journey, but I don't feel afraid, I feel at peace, I don't know, really."

10. PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET

11. SKYLINE