US President Donald Trump has sparked controversy with a post on Truth Social, suggesting Venezuela as the 51st state of the United States.
The post comes as Trump heads to China for a key summit with President Xi Jinping and follows his previous jibes at Canada.
Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has denied any consideration of joining the US, despite a thawing of relations with Washington.
Trump's 'control' over Caracas was established after a US military raid on the presidential palace and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.
Rodriguez has overseen reforms reopening Venezuela's mining and oil sectors to foreign companies, but the opposition has demanded new elections.
This is not Trump's first reference to adding a new state to the US, with Canada previously being considered as the 51st state.
