Colombia slams Trump's declaration on Venezuela airspace closure

BOGOTA, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump's declaration on the closure of Venezuela's airspace, urging countries to uphold the international order.

"No airline should accept illegal orders regarding the airspace of any country," said Petro on social media, urging Trump to "go back to respecting the international legal order."

He called on Latin American countries to demand respect for regional sovereignty and to resume normal flights, stressing that only Venezuelans have the right to choose their government.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the U.S. move was creating "unnecessary tension" that undermines Latin America's stability.

"Uncoordinated actions over the airspace of a sovereign state are contrary to the spirit of cooperation, good faith and mutual respect that should guide relations among states of the region," it said.

Trump said on Saturday that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered closed "in its entirety."

"To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. ■