The United States has seized a second Venezuelan government plane in less than a year during Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Dominican Republic. The seized aircraft had previously been detained for violating US sanctions against Venezuela and was used for international flights. This action reflects ongoing tensions between the US and Venezuela amid diplomatic efforts with President Maduro.

On Thursday, the United States seized a Venezuelan government aircraft for the second time within a year, coinciding with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to the Dominican Republic. The event took place at a military airstrip in Santo Domingo, where a prosecutor from the Dominican Republic and a representative from US law enforcement affixed a sign denoting the plane as “seized” on a Dassault Falcon 200 jet displaying a Venezuelan flag.

This aircraft had been detained last year as it was reported to have violated US sanctions directed at Venezuela. According to the US State Department, Venezuelan officials utilized this plane for international travel to destinations such as Greece, Turkey, Russia, Nicaragua, and Cuba, and it was recently brought to the Dominican Republic for maintenance.

In September, the Biden administration had announced another seizure of a Venezuelan government plane in the Dominican Republic, which had been used to facilitate international trips for President Nicolas Maduro.

The ongoing tension between the United States and Venezuela is characterized by stringent US sanctions imposed on the Maduro government, which the US accuses of corruption and human rights abuses. The seizures of Venezuelan aircraft in the Dominican Republic illustrate a broader strategy by the US to enforce these sanctions and curtail the operations of the Venezuelan government abroad, particularly under the leadership of President Marco Rubio’s administration.

In conclusion, the recent seizure of a Venezuelan government plane underscores the ongoing strain in US-Venezuela relations marked by sanctions and enforcement actions. The simultaneous timing with Secretary Rubio’s visit suggests an intentional reinforcement of US policies in the region. This event further highlights the ramifications of US sanctions on Venezuela, impacting its diplomatic and operational activities globally.

Original Source: www.scmp.com

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