President Trump posted on social media that Venezuela's airspace should be considered as "closed in its entirety."

U.S. pressure on Venezuela could give Trump leverage over its oil, with broad economic and geopolitical effects.

Vladimir Padrino López, defence minister for the past 11 years, has maintained the regime’s tight grip over the armed forces and acted as a link to Moscow, which supplies most of Venezuela’s weapons. He and interior minister Diosdado Cabello, who controls the police and prisons, guarantee control and ensure dissent is swiftly repressed.