Chavismo reacted by publishing a statement this Saturday, November 29, after the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced the total closure of airspace over Venezuela and surrounding areas in anticipation of possible US military operations in Venezuelan territory against narco-terrorism.
The wave of repudiation was led by the Chavista foreign minister, Yvan Gil, who disseminated through his Telegram account an official statement entitled “Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela”, in which the Government denounced what it called a “colonialist threat” that —in its opinion— “intends to affect the sovereignty of the national airspace”.
In the lengthy letter, the Chavista movement asserted that Trump attempted to"apply the illegitimate jurisdiction of the US extraterritorially" by "threatening the sovereignty of national airspace, territorial integrity, and aeronautical security."
The Chavista regime cited Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations, stating that these declarations represent an “explicit threat of the use of force,” prohibited by International Law.
They also argued that the warning contravenes Article 1 of the document, which establishes the maintenance of international peace and security as its purpose.
The statement also invoked rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the 1944 Chicago Convention, recalling that its Article 1 recognizes that “each State has exclusive and absolute sovereignty over the airspace that covers its territory.”
“Venezuela will not accept orders, threats or interference from any foreign power,” the statement shared by Gil on the messaging platform declared.
Chavismo seized upon the announcement to accuse Washington of unilaterally suspending repatriation flights under the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland Plan), which, according to official figures, has carried out 75 flights bringing back 13,956 Venezuelan migrants.
“The repatriated individuals have been received with love and absolute solidarity,” the statement issued from Caracas indicated.
The administration of Nicolás Maduro called on the international community, allied governments, the United Nations, and multilateral organizations to reject what they described as"immoral interference" and an "anti-imperialist" act.
“Venezuela will know how to respond with dignity and with all the strength that International Law grants,” the text concluded, closing with a symbolic reference to the legacy of Simón Bolívar: “The peoples who are heirs of El Libertador will prevail.”
