US President Donald Trump has been ramping up pressure on Venezuela's leader, President Nicolás Maduro.
In a sharp escalation of Washington's campaign on 10 December, the US seized a tanker off Venezuela's coast, accusing it of transporting sanctioned oil.
US warships are within striking distance of the South American country and dozens of people have been killed in attacks on boats alleged to have been carrying drugs.
The Trump administration has also doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture.
Nicolás Maduro rose to prominence under the leadership of left-wing President Hugo Chávez and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
