By:Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News|
Caribbean Airspace Reopens as Venezuela Crisis Triggers Political and Security Fallout
U.S. airlines have begun resuming flights across parts of the Caribbean after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted temporary airspace restrictions imposed in response to recent military activity in Venezuela.
The restrictions, which caused widespread flight cancellations over the weekend, were put in place following U.S. military strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. U.S. Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy announced late Saturday that the FAA’s airspace limitations expired at midnight, clearing the way for airlines to restart services on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The FAA had ordered U.S. carriers to avoid certain sections of Caribbean airspace due to safety concerns arising from the rapidly evolving security situation linked to the Venezuelan operation.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s Supreme Court has moved to address the leadership vacuum created by Maduro’s detention. The country’s Constitutional Chamber ruled that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez will assume the role of Acting President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. According to the court, the decision is intended to guarantee administrative continuity and ensure the comprehensive defence of the nation.
The ruling also indicated that the court will further deliberate on the legal framework required to maintain the continuity of the state, governance, and national sovereignty in the absence of the elected president.
The regional fallout intensified on Sunday after the Cuban government announced that 32 Cuban nationals were killed during the U.S. military operation in Caracas that culminated in Maduro’s capture. In a statement read on Cuban national television, Havana described the incident as a “criminal attack” by the United States against Venezuela.
Cuban officials said the deceased were members of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, who were carrying out missions at the request of Venezuelan counterpart agencies. The statement claimed the soldiers died following fierce resistance in direct combat or as a result of U.S. bombings during the operation.
In response, Cuba has declared two days of national mourning beginning Monday and has pledged to organise tributes in honour of those killed.
In Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar sought to downplay concerns about regional instability, stating that daily life in the twin-island republic continued as normal despite developments in Venezuela. Speaking after criticism from the opposition over her failure to address the nation, the Prime Minister said the situation in Venezuela did not directly affect Trinidad and Tobago.
At a news conference held at the United National Congress headquarters in Chaguanas, Foreign and CARICOM Affairs Minister Sean Sobers addressed questions regarding Maduro’s capture. He explained that the Prime Minister was engaged in other national commitments at the time.
Persad-Bissessar also suggested that Caribbean political figures allegedly implicated in drug trafficking allegations connected to Maduro would eventually be exposed.
As diplomatic tensions continue to rise and regional governments assess the implications of the unfolding crisis, the situation in Venezuela remains a focal point of concern for the Caribbean and the wider hemisphere.
