As U.S.-Venezuela tensions rise, sociologist and historian Emmanuel Guerisoli wrote in Spanish in Venezuela’s El Nacional that a civil war is “very likely” if the United States tries to unilaterally oust President Nicolás Maduro. Newsweek has reached out to Guerisoli and the State Department for comment via email on Wednesday.

This came after Trump indicated that the US might attack Venezuela, calling it a 'terrorist state'. He accused the South American country of seizing the assets of US oil companies.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said Friday that she is focused on an orderly transition of power in her country should President Nicolás Maduro leave power and that she is confident Venezuela’s police and armed forces would not oppose such a transition.

The Venezuelan defense minister has vowed to respond to U.S. "sovereignty" threats as pressure on Caracas mounts.

Opposition leader María Corina Machado plans to return to Venezuela whether or not President Nicolás Maduro is removed from power

The House takes up two separate war powers resolutions to block further military action without explicit Congressional authorization — one aimed at pulling US forces out of any conflict with

U.S. officials tie seized Venezuelan oil and expropriated assets to funding for Maduro’s regime; critics call the blockade an armed attempt to collect old corporate debts.

Bolivia’s new foreign minister said Venezuela’s crisis can only be resolved through a democratic transition anchored in institutions strong enough to survive “the day after” President Nicolas Maduro potentially leaves power.