The United States has offered Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro the option of leaving the country for Russia or another destination, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin said on Sunday (Nov 30), as fears grow over possible US military escalation in the region. “We gave Maduro an opportunity to leave. We said he could leave and go to Russia or he could go to another country,” Mullin told CNN. Despite growing concern in the region, Senator Mullin insisted that President Donald Trump is not preparing a military invasion. “No, he’s made it very clear that we’re not going to put troops in Venezuela,” Mullin said. “What we are trying to do is to protect our own shores.” His comments come as Trump steps up pressure on Caracas, declaring Venezuela’s airspace “closed” and expanding military operations targeting alleged drug traffickers. Venezuela’s airspace ‘totally closed’ Trump issued his starkest warning on Saturday, posting on Truth Social: “To all airlines, pilots, drug traffickers and human traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE OVER AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY.” Venezuela condemned the declaration as a “colonial threat” and called it “illegal and unjustified aggression” that violates its sovereignty and international law. Caracas accused Washington of maintaining a “permanent policy of aggression” against the country. US airstrikes since September have targeted suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, killing at least 83 people, according to officials. The strikes are part of Operation Southern Spear, which has attacked at least 21 boats. The US claims the boats were run by drug traffickers, but has not released cargo proofs to support its claims. The Pentagon has labeled the networks “foreign terrorist organizations” and placed them alongside groups such as al-Qaeda.