Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accused the United States of using anti-drug flights in the Caribbean to spy on Venezuela.
Chavez claimed that a US Navy plane that flew into Venezuelan airspace during an anti-drug mission last week was actually involved in reconnaissance.
"They are spying," Chavez said during a speech on Wednesday.
The Venezuelan president warned Washington that he would dispatch fighter jets the next time a US military plane violates Venezuelan airspace.
The United States said it was taking steps to make sure its planes don't stray into Venezuelan airspace again.