The United States is set to take a significant step against the Venezuelan government by seizing a plane linked to the country's president, Nicolás Maduro. This move is aligned with ongoing U.S. sanctions against Maduro's regime and is expected to be highlighted during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the Dominican Republic. The announcement, planned for Thursday, underscores the U.S. administration’s commitment to enforcing international sanctions, as confirmed by reliable sources familiar with the details.
Rubio's announcement comes as part of his extensive five-nation tour across Central America. The seized aircraft, a Dassault Falcon 200, has reportedly been used by Maduro and his key officials, including the vice president and defense minister, for international travel to countries such as Greece, Turkey, and Russia. U.S. authorities allege that these trips represent a violation of imposed sanctions.
The operation to seize the plane required an intricate coordination involving Rubio's endorsement of a strategic waiver. This waiver, approval for which has been granted, allows the allocation of funds exceeding $230,000 to cover the expenses associated with the plane's storage and maintenance. The Department of Justice played a crucial role in authorizing this waiver, reflecting the procedural complexity behind such international seizure operations.
This development follows shortly after a diplomatic mission led by Richard Grenell, a special envoy under the Trump administration, who visited Caracas to negotiate the return of Venezuelan citizens who had unlawfully entered the U.S. The mission resulted in the release of six American detainees in Venezuela, marking a minor diplomatic achievement amid strained U.S.-Venezuelan relations.
In a related action last September, the U.S. government seized another aircraft associated with Maduro’s administration. This previous seizure involved a Dassault Falcon 900EX, which was reportedly obtained through complex transactions using a Caribbean-based shell company to conceal the true owners – a strategy often criticized for facilitating sanctions evasion.
Additionally, noteworthy progress was made during Rubio’s visit to Panama, where an agreement was reached to waive canal transit fees for U.S. warships, a decision set to save the U.S. Defense budget millions in annual costs. This measure is seen as a strategic effort to counter China's influence in the region, further demonstrating the U.S.’s active role in Latin American geopolitics.
The seizure announcement in the Dominican Republic not only highlights ongoing geopolitical maneuvering but also serves as a robust message to Maduro's regime regarding international compliance and sanction adherence. This action is likely to stir diplomatic tensions, yet it remains a clear signal of the U.S. commitment to holding persistent sanction violators accountable while navigating complex international relations.
