U.S. diplomatic personnel have been deployed to Caracas as the Trump administration moves to resume relations with Venezuela after Nicolás Maduro's capture.

U.S. Southern Command said the Liberian-flagged Motor Vessel Sagitta was apprehended “without incident” and was taking oil from Venezuela in defiance of sanctions.

GOP lawmakers pulled out all the stops to manage a tie vote and keep a war powers effort at bay a week after Senate Republicans quashed a similar measure.

Mr Putin praised Russia’s constructive role in Latin America and the Middle East. He made no mention of America’s armed forces having abducted Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, a Russian ally whom he had welcomed in the Kremlin eight months earlier—much less of how easily they had knocked out Venezuela’s Russian-built air defences.

Jan 22 (Reuters) - A sweeping proposed reform of Venezuela's hydrocarbons law would allow foreign and local companies to operate oilfields on their own through a new contract model, commercialize output and receive sale proceeds even if acting as minority partners of state company PDVSA,

The House on Thursday narrowly voted down a Democratic-led war powers resolution designed to block President Trump from using military force in Venezuela without explicit approval from Congress. Republicans successfully blocked the measure in a 215-215 tie vote.

Economic instability in Venezuela after the U.S. raid to capture its president is deepening inflation and rattling the currency, sending grocery bills soaring for millions of people.

The United States has named a two-time U.S. ambassador as its top envoy for Venezuela, according to the U.S. embassy in Caracas website.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Thursday the United States will not provide on-the-ground security to oil companies operating in Venezuela as part of efforts to revitalize the country’s energy industry.