The United States has seized a second plane linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government, a move that further intensifies the strained relations between Washington and Caracas. This latest operation took place in the Dominican Republic, where U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio personally oversaw the seizure while on a diplomatic tour of Latin America.
The aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 200, had been used by Maduro and his top aides, including his vice president and defense minister, for international travel to destinations like Greece, Turkey, Russia, and Cuba. U.S. authorities allege that these trips violated U.S. sanctions, citing the use of American parts in servicing the plane and its original purchase by a Venezuelan state-owned oil and gas company in 2017.
The plane’s seizure follows a similar operation in September 2024, where the U.S. took control of another jet linked to Maduro’s regime. In that instance, the U.S. Justice Department revealed that associates of Maduro used a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal their involvement in the plane’s purchase from a Florida company.
The U.S. justified both seizures under the sanctions imposed on Venezuela, which have targeted its government and state-owned enterprises. These actions coincide with heightened diplomatic exchanges, including a recent visit to Venezuela by U.S. envoy Richard Grenell to discuss the repatriation of Venezuelan nationals detained in the U.S.
In a related diplomatic development, Rubio also addressed tensions regarding Panama Canal transit fees, emphasizing that Panama’s legal processes should not prevent U.S. ships from transiting the canal without charges. This came after contradictory statements about fee waivers between Panama and the U.S. Department of State.
These seizures are part of a broader U.S. strategy to apply pressure on Maduro’s regime, which has faced widespread sanctions due to its controversial policies and human rights violations. The latest developments signal that the U.S. is committed to intensifying its measures against Venezuela as tensions continue to rise.
Dassault Falcon 8Xon Wikipedia by Matti Blume CC-BY-SA 4.0
