Donald Trump Narrows Rift With Venezuela; Will Send US Envoy, Reopen Airspace

Washington: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he has informed Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodriguez that he is reopening all commercial airspace over Venezuela and that Americans will soon be able to travel there. Trump said he instructed US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and military officials to reopen the airspace by the end of the day.

“I just spoke to the President of Venezuela and informed her that we are going to open all commercial airspace over Venezuela. American citizens will be, very shortly, able to go to Venezuela and they'll be safe there,” Trump told the media during a briefing.

"American citizens will be able to travel to Venezuela very soon, and they will be safe there," he added.

What step did the US take on Venezuela?

There are reports that the US may soon appoint an ambassador to Venezuela. The appointment of an ambassador is expected to improve US-Venezuelan relations. The US withdrew its ambassador from Venezuela during the Nicolás Maduro government. Since then, relations between the two countries have been strained. However, the situation has changed since Maduro's arrest, and US influence in Venezuela has increased.

What is the reaction among Latin American countries?

Leaders of Latin American countries called for regional unity amid growing political polarization and recent US intervention in Venezuela. These leaders gathered on Wednesday to attend an economic forum organized by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) in Panama City. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not directly name the US, but alluded to the country's recent actions and the political divisions they have created. He said these reasons have led to a stalemate in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the only organization that brings together all the governments of the region.