Venezuela exported more than 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil last month, the third-highest monthly average so far this year, as PDVSA imported more naphtha to dilute its extra-heavy oil output. Even as Washington increased pressure on Maduro, Trump’s administration had not previously moved to interfere with oil flows.

America has rapidly increased its military presence in Latin America to the largest levels in decades in what the administration insists is an effort to combat drug trafficking being assisted by

The Venezuelan government said the US administration has unilaterally suspended deportation flights from the United States that were due to land on Friday.

The seizure marks a sharp escalation in Washington's pressure campaign against Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro government.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Friday promised political change after slipping out of the country in secret to collect the Nobel Peace Prize, as the shock waves intensified from the Trump administration's seizure of an oil tanker earlier this week.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado spoke in Norway, a day after the US seized an oil tank off the coast of her country, upping pressure on the ruling government. Follow for live updates

As President Donald Trump's drug campaign targets Venezuela, potential land strikes raise concerns about oil market disruption and higher energy prices for Americans.

The oil supertanker Skipper that was seized by the U.S. near Venezuela this week as part of an increased pressure strategy against President Nicolas Maduro, is heading to Houston, two sources said on Friday.