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   Three airlines have canceled flights from Venezuela after the US warned on   
   Friday of "potentially dangerous situations" on flights over the country,   
   particularly over the capital's region and the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela.   
       
   Portugal's TAP, Colombia's Avianca, and Brazil's Gol canceled flights from   
   Caracas International Airport on Saturday. Spain's Iberia did depart a plane   
   from Simon Bolivar Maiquetia International Airport on Saturday, but has   
   canceled all flights to Venezuela until further notice.   
       
   US forces, including large naval vessels, are active in the Caribbean Sea,   
   reportedly hunting drug smugglers. The US government claims to be at war with   
   drug criminals and holds Venezuela responsible for drug trafficking to the US.   
   Caracas Airport is located on the Caribbean Sea, approximately 10 kilometers   
   from Caracas.   
       
   According to observers, the large military presence in the southern Caribbean   
   is primarily motivated by Washington's desire to overthrow the regime of   
   President Nicolás Maduro. The US does not recognize him as head of state, but   
   considers him a fugitive drug lord. Reuters reports that anonymous US   
   officials have said the Trump administration wants to begin "a new phase of   
   operations related to Venezuela" in the coming days.   
       
   Developments in the region are being closely monitored in Aruba, Bonaire, and   
   Curaçao.   
      
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