Relations between Venezuela and the United States (US) have been characterised by intermittent tensions since the last quarter of the 20th century. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have been marked by constant ups and downs due to differences in political ideology, economic sanctions, energy policies and regional security strategies. This tension gained momentum, particularly in the early 2000s during Hugo Chávez’s presidency, as the US developed policies aimed at limiting its energy and political influence in the region. Throughout Chávez’s tenure, US sanctions against Venezuela, diplomatic pressure, and rhetoric calling for regime change led to a structural fragility in relations.[i]
By 2025, US-Venezuela relations had entered a systematic and multidimensional deterioration process, going beyond the tensions observed in previous periods. A key catalyst in this process has been the US’s accusation that Venezuela is involved in ‘narco-terrorism,’ linking it to international security threats, increasing its regional military presence, and directly threatening Caracas with land, sea, and air operations.[ii] The Trump administration’s threat of a ground operation against Venezuela in autumn 2025 and the intensification of US military presence in the region have created deep security concerns in Caracas. These developments have led the Venezuelan government to label the US a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ and adopt a harsh rhetoric.[iii]
Venezuela’s response to these security concerns and external pressure can be understood within the framework of protecting the country’s sovereignty and ensuring national security. In this context, on 27 November 2025, the flight permits of six major international airlines were revoked, and a strong isolation strategy was implemented on commercial and civil connections associated with the United States.[iv] This decision came after airlines suspended their flights due to a safety warning issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and increased military activity in the region. The airlines were given a 48-hour ultimatum, and their licences were revoked upon its expiry. Underlying the airline crisis are not only operational risks but also a diplomatic and economic message to the United States; this situation demonstrates that Venezuela has adopted a hybrid counter-strategy targeting civilian infrastructure and economic actors.[v]
The increase in US sanctions against Venezuela, diplomatic isolation efforts and military threat policies have been perceived by Caracas as intervention and external pressure, prompting Venezuelan officials to develop harsh sovereignty and isolation policies in response. This situation has extended the tension between the two countries beyond the diplomatic and military spheres to encompass economic and social areas.
Economically, flight cancellations and restrictions on civil infrastructure have had serious negative effects on trade, tourism, international investment and diaspora connections. The cancellation of airline services has led to a contraction in international trade, a collapse in the tourism sector, and restrictions on communication channels with the diaspora. This situation can be understood as part of the Caracas administration’s strategy to reduce external dependence and strengthen its emphasis on sovereignty, but it is also a risk factor that increases economic fragility in the long term.
In terms of security and diplomacy, the United States’ military presence and regional operations in the Caribbean directly threaten Venezuela’s perception of sovereignty. This perceived threat raises new debates not only in terms of national border security but also in terms of diplomatic relations, regional stability and international law. Venezuela’s radical measures, based on airspace sovereignty and the right to intervene in civil infrastructure, conflict with international aviation, trade, and transit transport norms. This situation further highlights the long-term consequences of diplomatic isolation and economic marginalisation in relations between the two countries.
From a political and strategic perspective, the crisis in the autumn of 2025 demonstrates that hybrid conflict strategies targeting civil infrastructure and economic actors have replaced traditional diplomacy and sanctions.[vi] Karakas’s strategy serves both as a message to the United States and as a means of reinforcing the emphasis on sovereignty and security in domestic politics. It also has profound implications for regional security balances and diplomatic stability in Latin America.
Consequently, the events of autumn 2025 represent not merely a civil aviation crisis or economic tension in US-Venezuela relations, but a concrete manifestation of a multidimensional deterioration centred on diplomatic, economic and security issues. These developments provide a new and timely example in the literature of how civilian infrastructure can be used as a strategic tool in interstate conflicts. The future of relations will be shaped by the management of these multidimensional tensions and the attitudes of regional actors.
[i] “Timeline: 26 years of fraught US-Venezuela relations”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/25/timeline-26-years-of-fraught-us-venezuela-relations, (Access Date: 28.11.2025).
[ii] “Trump Escalates Pressure on Venezuela, but Endgame Is Unclear”, The New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/us/politics/trump-pressure-venezuela.html, (Access Date: 28.11.2025).
[iii] “Venezuela bans six international airlines as tensions with US escalate”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/27/venezuela-bans-six-leading-airlines-as-tensions-with-us-escalate (Access Date: 28.11.2025).
[iv] “Venezuela withdraws operating permits for six airlines after ultimatum over suspended flights”, Euronews, https://www.euronews.com/travel/2025/11/27/venezuela-withdraws-operating-permits-for-six-airlines-after-ultimatum-over-suspended-flig, (Access Date: 28.11.2025).
[v] “Venezuela suspends flight rights for six foreign airlines amid US tensions”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11/27/venezuela-suspends-flight-rights-for-six-foreign-airlines-amid-us-tensions, (Access Date: 28.11.2025).
[vi] “Trump: US to ‘soon’ take action against Venezuela ‘by land’”, Deutsche Welle, https://www.dw.com/en/trump-us-to-soon-take-action-against-venezuela-by-land/a-74933223, (Access Date: 28.11.2025).
