India, Jan. 30 -- US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that American citizens will soon be able to visit Venezuela, saying he had instructed senior officials to reopen commercial airspace over the South American nation, a dramatic shift in policy following months of heightened tensions.

Speaking at a White House Cabinet meeting, Trump said he had informed Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez that the United States will move to open the country's commercial airspace by the end of the day.

He added that major US oil companies were expected to begin scouting sites in Venezuela, suggesting economic as well as diplomatic motives behind the decision.

The announcement follows Trump's declaration in November that the airspac...