Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro warned that his country must “stand like warriors … ready to smash the teeth of the North American empire” Wednesday, a moment that coincided with the US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.

Maduro has survived predictions and ridicule, but along the way, Venezuela lost millions of inhabitants, 72% of its economy, democratic legitimacy in the eyes of much of the world, and many of its most important international allies.

With the economy in ruins, and U.S. military forces off the coast, uncertainty and rumors mark life in Venezuela, dampening the yuletide mood.

When asked if he could rule out a ground invasion of Venezuela, Trump answered: “I don’t want to rule in or out.”

The U.S. ‌government ​carried out its seizure ‌of the M/T Skipper off the coast of Venezuela ​on Wednesday just as a judge-signed warrant was set to expire, according to ‍the document which was ​unsealed on Friday.