US President Donald Trump and his top advisers have refused to rule out the possibility of open conflict with Venezuela, while President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the Venezuelan navy to escort oil tankers following the seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker by US forces. The US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima was seen docked in Ponce, Puerto Rico, amid a significant military buildup in the Caribbean.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump stated that going to war with Maduro's regime remains a possibility, saying "I don't rule it out, no." This stance was echoed by Marco Rubio, a top Trump adviser, who said at a year-end press conference at the State Department that the US could coerce Maduro through its campaign of economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

The US military buildup in the Caribbean has been ongoing for several weeks, with the USS Iwo Jima joining a fleet of US warships and aircraft carriers in the region. The Venezuelan government has accused the US of attempting to strangle the country's economy through its sanctions and military presence.

Maduro has responded to the US military buildup by ordering the Venezuelan navy to escort oil tankers, in an effort to protect the country's vital oil exports. The Venezuelan president has also accused the US of trying to provoke a conflict and has vowed to defend the country's sovereignty.

The situation in Venezuela has been marked by increasing tensions between the government and opposition forces, as well as between the government and the US. The country has been plagued by economic crisis, food shortages, and a growing humanitarian crisis, with millions of Venezuelans fleeing the country in search of better living conditions.

International observers have expressed concern over the escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela, with some warning of the potential for a wider conflict in the region. The Organization of American States (OAS) has called for a peaceful resolution to the crisis, while the European Union has urged restraint from all parties involved.

The current status of the situation remains uncertain, with both the US and Venezuela maintaining a hardline stance. The US has continued to impose economic sanctions on Venezuela, while the Venezuelan government has vowed to defend its sovereignty and protect its oil exports. The situation is likely to remain volatile in the coming weeks and months, with the potential for further escalation or a peaceful resolution hanging in the balance.