The largest oil reserves of any country on the planet, more than 300 billion barrels, are estimated to lie beneath the ground in Venezuela.

In an unprecedented move, the US military intercepted two Russian-flagged oil tankers as part of its pressure campaign against Venezuela, escalating a conflict with Moscow.

US special forces snatched president Maduro and his wife from Caracas on Saturday in a lightning operation, and whisked them to New York to face trial on drug charges.