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The Venezuelan government confirmed on Tuesday that it will continue to receive deportation flights sent by the United States, despite President Donald Trump's declaration that the airspace of the South American country was closed.
According to a report by AP, the administration of dictator Nicolás Maduro announced that repatriation flights will continue to operate twice a week, following a formal request from the United States government.
The decision contradicts a previous announcement from the regime itself, which on Saturday stated that Washington had unilaterally suspended the flights.
The confirmation came after the American airline Eastern Airlines submitted a new request for overflight and landing at Maiquetía Airport for Wednesday, a process made public by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela.
The flights, which are part of the migration agreement reached between both countries, have facilitated the deportation of more than 13,000 Venezuelans in 2025, according to official data.
Migrants regularly arrive in Caracas on planes chartered by the U.S. government or by the Venezuelan state airline Conviasa.
The continuation of flights occurs amid bilateral tensions following Trump's remarks on the situation in the Caribbean.
The U.S. president had warned that Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed for security reasons, and that any aircraft or vessel linked to Maduro's regime could be subject to sanctions or military action.
The operation Southern Spear, a US offensive against drug trafficking networks in the Caribbean, has included attacks on vessels suspected of operating under the control of structures linked to the Venezuelan regime.
Despite the friction, Caracas decided to maintain deportation flights, a sign that Maduro's government seeks to preserve certain channels of communication with Washington amid its growing international isolation.
Since 2022, the White House has pressured Maduro to accept the return of Venezuelans with deportation orders, following years in which Caracas refused to accept its own citizens expelled for immigration reasons.
In recent weeks, Trump has insisted that his administration will strengthen deportation policies and the fight against drug trafficking, areas in which he has accused the Maduro regime of complicity with criminal groups.
Venezuela's decision to keep repatriation flights open could indicate an attempt by the chavismo to avoid additional sanctions, even as the hostile rhetoric between both governments continues.
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