Donald Trump has said the US will keep or sell the crude oil contained on tankers it has seized off the coast of Venezuela, as well as the vessels themselves.
The US president's comments came as Washington continues to pressure the South American country's leader Nicolás Maduro to stand down.
Speaking to reporters in Florida on Monday, Trump said of the oil we're going to keep it, adding: Maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it. Maybe we'll use it in the Strategic Reserves. We're keeping the ships also.

The Trump administration has accused Venezuela of using oil revenues to fund drug-related crime, while Caracas has condemned the seizures as piracy.
The US military has seized two oil tankers this month, including one on Saturday. Trump issued his latest warning as the US Coast Guard continued to pursue a third oil tanker, which authorities described as part of a Venezuelan dark fleet used to evade US sanctions.

It's moving along, and we'll end up getting it, Trump said.
Separately on Monday, the US military stated it carried out a strike on what it said was a suspected trafficking vessel in international waters in the eastern Pacific, resulting in one person's death.
When asked whether the goal of the seizures was to force Maduro from power, Trump responded: Well, I think it probably would... That's up to him what he wants to do. I think it'd be smart for him to do that. But again, we're gonna find out.

The US has been building up its military presence in the Pacific and Caribbean Seas, conducting strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats, which have reportedly resulted in approximately 100 casualties.
It has not provided public evidence that these vessels were carrying drugs, raising scrutiny from Congress regarding the military actions.
On Monday, Trump reiterated intentions to target land operations as well, asserting, We'll be starting the same programme on land. If they want to come by land, they're going to end up having a big problem. They're going to get blown to pieces, because we don't want our people poisoned.

Reacting, Maduro stated: He would be better off in his own country dealing with economic and social issues and the world would be better off if he focused on his own country's affairs.

Since taking office in January, Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture, labeling him as one of the largest narco-traffickers globally.
The Trump administration has identified Maduro's government as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. This has sparked outrage among Caracas officials, who rely heavily on oil exports for public spending.
At Venezuela's request, the UN Security Council is set to hold an emergency session to discuss what the government describes as ongoing US aggression.