US conducts military drill in Venezuela with navy ships and aircraft

The US embassy said in a statement it remained, "committed to ensuring the implementation," of President Donald Trump's three-phase plan, "particularly the stabilization of Venezuela."

Francis Donovan, commander of the US Southern Command, which oversees US military operations in the Americas, flew on one of the Osprey aircraft into Caracas, where he met with interim government officials.

Trump's administration has backed the government of Delcy Rodriguez, formerly Maduro's vice president, which has passed laws to open up Venezuela's vast oil reserves and mining resources to the US.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado spoke to hundreds of Venezuelan emigrants at a rally in Panama City on Saturday, pledging to continue organizing the movement.