(The Hill) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday urged airlines to “exercise caution” when flying over parts of Latin America, warning of military activities and possible interference with satellite navigation capabilities.
In several advisories, the agency said “potential risks exist for aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and the arrival and departure phases of flight.” The alerts are active through March 17.
The warnings come amid escalating tensions in the region over the past several months, following a series of deadly U.S. strikes targeting alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific.
The FAA warned last November of a “worsening security situation and heightened military activity” in Venezuela, cautioning against operating the country’s airspace.
The weeks of increased military presence culminated in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were brought to New York to face narcoterrorism charges.
The Trump administration implemented flight restrictions in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. attack on Venezuela, prompting major airlines to cancel dozens of flights to Caribbean countries, including Puerto Rico.
President Trump has raised the possibility of military action against other nearby nations in the days since, citing what he called the “Don-roe Doctrine,” including Cuba and Mexico.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” Trump wrote Jan. 9 on Truth Social. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has pushed back against Trump’s threats, saying on Friday, “You will not intimidate us.”
“No, imperialists, we have absolutely no fear of you…and we don’t like to be threatened,” Diaz-Canel said during a large protest outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana over the death of Cuban officers who were killed in the operation that captured Maduro.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also rebuffed Trump’s threats.