A day after she gave President Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado insisted that her country was on an irreversible path toward democracy, even as Trump has spoken far more frequently in recent days about securing Venezuelan oil than bringing about free elections.

The seizure comes as President Trump is set to meet​ with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado Thursday at the White House.

The U.S. military seized a sixth Venezuelan oil tanker in a Caribbean operation Thursday amid the Trump administration's campaign against illicit oil trade.

Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal said on Saturday that it has confirmed the release of 139 political prisoners in Venezuela since January 8.

China is trying to position itself as a stabilizing force amid U.S. actions on Venezuela and Iran — but its commitment to allies is largely pragmatic, analysts say.

U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a resolution on Wednesday that would have barred President Donald Trump from further military action in Venezuela without Congress' authorization, after the Republican president put pressure on party members who had supported it.

Venezuela’s road to democracy does not start or end with Trump’s extraction of Maduro, writes journalist Helena Carpio.