To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human smugglers: Please consider the airspace over and around Venezuela completely closed, US President Donald Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social on Saturday.

As is his custom, he didn't forget to add capital letters. Trump's message fits into the tensions between Venezuela and the United States.

There is a significant American military presence in the Caribbean, and the United States regularly attacks boats suspected of smuggling drugs.

The BBC noted that Washington has amassed the largest number of troops near Venezuela since the invasion of Panama in 1989. The forces also include the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford and an accompanying fleet.

Trump warned on Thursday that a US operation to stop drug smuggling on the mainland could begin soon.

While the White House claims it wants to stop drug trafficking, Venezuela believes it wants to overthrow the regime of leftist dictator Nicolás Maduro.