They were the first U.S. citizens released after the U.S. military captured Nicolás Maduro and flew him to the United States to stand trial on drug and other charges.

Venezuela is believed to have deposits of several minerals classified as critical by the U.S. Geological Survey, including coltan—a tantalum- and niobium-bearing mineral—and bauxite, the primary ore of aluminum.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado prepares to meet Donald Trump. Her rival, interim President Delcy Rodríguez, will be watching.

Rubio has backed Trump's decision to allow Rodriguez to remain in power, and has led the administration's contacts with the new leader. But he has longstanding ties to Venezuelan opposition leaders, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, and has spoken of his hopes of democracy for Venezuelans.

Venezuela is home to the world’s largest reported oil reserves. The country’s other commodities have also caught the Trump administration’s attention.

U.S. military launched a massive strike against Venezuela with 150+ aircraft, capturing dictator Nicolás Maduro in major coordinated operation.

Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado met with Pope Leo XIV in a private audience at the Vatican on Monday. The meeting, which hadn't been previously included in the list of Leo's planned appointments, was later listed by the Vatican in its daily bulletin, without adding details.

President Donald Trump tore into Republicans who moved to keep him from striking Venezuela again without congressional approval while in Detroit.