US Treasury Imposes Additional Aircraft Sanctions on Venezuela's State-Owned Oil Company

[Image source=U.S. Department of the Treasury website/https://home.treasury.gov]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced additional sanctions to pressure the Nicol?s Maduro regime in Venezuela, imposing further sanctions on 15 aircraft owned by the Venezuelan state-owned oil company. This move is interpreted as a measure to pressure the Maduro regime following the meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Juan Guaid?, who declared himself interim president of Venezuela, in Colombia the previous day. The Maduro regime sparked controversy within Venezuela by searching Guaid?'s office while he was away in Colombia.

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on the 21st (local time) that it has blacklisted 15 aircraft owned by the Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA and restricted transactions involving them. The Treasury explained that these aircraft were included in the sanctions because they were used to transport high-ranking officials of the Maduro regime, such as the Venezuelan oil minister attending the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting held last year in the United Arab Emirates.

Additionally, the U.S. Treasury stated that some of these aircraft operated in a "dangerous and unprofessional manner" by approaching U.S. military aircraft. Last winter, one of these aircraft, model YV2734, flew close to U.S. military aircraft over the Caribbean, and earlier in the spring of last year, it was reported to have attempted interference with U.S. military aircraft. The U.S. government's additional sanctions are seen as a means to further pressure the Maduro regime. The day before, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Venezuelan opposition leader Guaid? in Colombia and pledged further U.S. actions to support Guaid?, stating that "the Maduro regime's tyranny must end."

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Maduro regime searched Guaid?'s office while he was out of the country. Agents from the Venezuelan police special forces (FAES) and the National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) searched Guaid?'s office located in downtown Caracas, surrounding the building and blocking its entrance. Venezuelan opposition lawmakers strongly protested, claiming the search was conducted without a warrant.

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