Venezuela Decries US Aircraft Seizure as 'Bold Theft'

In a sharp rebuke of the United States, Venezuela has labeled the seizure of one of its government aircraft as an act of "brazen theft." This incident marks the second confiscation of a Venezuelan plane in less than a year, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two nations, which have long been at odds over sanctions and human rights violations.

Venezuela has accused the US of "brazen theft" following the seizure of a government aircraft in the Dominican Republic. The operation, reportedly overseen by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, occurred on Thursday, marking the second instance in under a year that the US has confiscated a Venezuelan plane from the Caribbean nation. According to US authorities, the legal justification for the seizure included violations of US sanctions, export controls, and allegations of money laundering.

In response, the Venezuelan foreign ministry condemned Rubio, calling him "an aircraft thief.” The US has enforced a series of sanctions against the Venezuelan government, accusing President Nicolás Maduro's administration of corruption, repression, and criminality. Recent financial sanctions were imposed on several Venezuelan officials following what many international observers deemed a disputed presidential election in which Maduro was re-elected.

During his Latin American tour, Rubio addressed the press about the seizure of the Dassault Falcon 200 jet at a military airstrip in Santo Domingo, asserting that the action served as a warning against violations of human rights and sanctions. "These sanctions are going to be applied and reinforced," he emphasized.

The plane had reportedly been used by Venezuelan officials on trips to various countries, including Greece and Turkey, and was undergoing maintenance in the Dominican Republic when the seizure took place. The Venezuelan foreign ministry has vowed to "take all necessary actions to denounce this theft and demand the immediate return of its aircraft."

This seizure follows a similar incident last September when the US confiscated another government plane that had been used by Maduro for international engagements, further heightening tensions between the two nations amidst an ongoing backdrop of international sanctions.