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VENEZUELAN President Nicolás Maduro has written to the secretary general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Haitham Al Ghais, and OPEC Plus and member countries, accusing the US of attempting to seize the South American country's vast oil reserve through military force.

On the afternoon of November 30, Venezuelan vice-president Delcy Rodriguez made the announcement via social media, saying such a move "would seriously affect the balance of the global energy market."

She added that Venezuela will remain firm in defending its natural energy resources, noting that the country has the largest oil reserves in the world. "Nothing will stop us! We will continue to be free and sovereign," Rodriguez said.