US Air Authority Warns of Military Activities Over Mexico and South America

US FAA Issues Warnings Over Military Activities in Latin America

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued notices to airlines, advising them to exercise caution when flying over certain areas of Mexico and other Central American countries, as well as Ecuador and Colombia. The warnings are due to “military activities” in the region.

The FAA released a series of advisories on Friday, which will remain in effect for 60 days. The notices warn of a potentially hazardous situation in specific areas, including above parts of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. This follows an ongoing US military buildup in Latin America, including recent attacks on Venezuela.

US President Donald Trump has made several threats related to Mexico’s drug cartels, stating that the US will take action against them. In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported “compelling results” in efforts to combat the cartels and slow migration north. Sheinbaum cited a decrease in homicide rates, lower fentanyl seizures at the border, and reduced migration.

The FAA’s warnings come amid an increased presence of US military forces in the region. Last month, a JetBlue passenger jet took evasive action to avoid a midair collision with a US Air Force tanker plane near Venezuela. The incident occurred while the plane was flying over the Caribbean nation of Curacao.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente released a joint statement earlier this week, emphasizing the need for cooperation to address shared threats. Sheinbaum has also called on Washington to stop the trafficking of weapons into Mexico from the US.

Source: Al Jazeera