The Trump administration has released an updated National Security Strategy, which warned, among other things, that Europe faced what it called "the stark prospect of civilisational erasure." 

The new strategy document also pledged to use "lethal force to defeat drugs cartels" which it said would replace the failed law enforcement-only strategy of the last several decades.

It is the use of lethal force against alleged drug boats from Venezuela in the Caribbean that has dominated US politics this week.

Meanwhile, the US military build-up off the coast of Venezuela continues, with more ships stationed there since the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s. 

What does all of this mean for the people of Venezuela?