CARACAS, Venezuela

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Venezuela’s airspace will be reopened to commercial flights, calling on airlines and investors to return to the country.

Speaking in the capital, Rodriguez announced that all commercial airspace restrictions imposed since Nov. 2025 have been lifted.

Emphasizing that she discussed the issue directly with Trump, she said: “All airline companies that are supposed to come should come.”

She held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, she said, stressing that significant steps were being taken between the two countries.

“We are talking about the removal of all restrictions on Venezuela’s commercial airspace. All airlines and investors who should come must come to our country,” Rodriguez said.

Trump earlier addressed the issue during the first Cabinet meeting of the year at the White House, commenting on the latest developments regarding Venezuela.

Referring to Rodriguez, Trump said: "I just spoke to the president of Venezuela, informed her that we're going to be opening up all commercial airspace over Venezuela."

Trump added that he has instructed the US Department of Transportation and the military to take the necessary steps to reopen Venezuelan airspace to commercial flights as soon as possible, adding that Americans would once again be able to travel to Venezuela and “be safe there.”

Rodriguez assumed office as interim president on Jan. 5 after being sworn in at the National Assembly following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during simultaneous US airstrikes on the country, according to Venezuelan officials.

In a statement at the time, Rodriguez said: “I stand here with sorrow over the abduction of our president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, and the two heroes being held hostage in the United States.”