On Wednesday, Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the country's interim president at a mass rally in Caracas. The United States urged Nicolas Maduro to step down in favour of Guaido. Maduro called Guaido "the US puppet" and said that Venezuela was severing diplomatic ties with Washington.

Axar.az reports that, earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington recognises Juan Guaido, the president of the disempowered National Assembly, as the legitimate head of Venezuela.

"We continue to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime directly responsible for any threats it may pose to the safety of the Venezuelan people", Trump said.

Later, US President told reporters at the White House when asked if he was considering sending the US military to the country, that all options were on the table for Venezuela.
"We're not considering anything, but all options are on the table," Trump said.

The United States has promised to take action against President Maduro and his supporters if they attempt to harm members of the National Assembly or other opposition officials.

However, some countries expressed disagreement with Washington's policy.

"Firm Support and Solidarity"

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that Cuba fully supports Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid attempts "to stage coup d'etat" in the Bolivarian Republic.

"Firm support and solidarity of Cuba with constitutional President Nicolas Maduro in light of coup attempts," Rodriguez said on Twitter.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that the current events in Venezuela show the real attitude of the West toward international law and the sovereignty of other states.

"The events in Venezuela clearly demonstrate the real attitude of the progressive Western community toward international law, sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs of states by manually changing power there," Zakharova said on Facebook.

At the same time, the Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Mexico continues to recognize the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

"Based on our constitutional principles of non-interference, self-determination of peoples, peaceful resolution of international disagreements… Mexico will not participate in the non-recognition of the government of the country which it has diplomatic relationship with," the statement read.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also expressed support for his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, Erdogan's spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Thursday.

"Our president called Venezuelan President Maduro, conveyed to him Turkey's support," Kalin said on Twitter.

Still, some countries expressed their support to the opposition-controlled National Assembly.

Support for Opposition-Run National Assembly

So far, along with the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru have recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani has also expressed support for the Venezuelan opposition leader, recognizing his legitimacy.

"I am closely following the situation in Venezuela. Unlike Maduro, Guaido has democratic legitimacy. It is necessary to respect demonstrations and freedom of expression of the people who are tired of suffering from hunger and abuse by Maduro," Tajani said on Twitter.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has said commenting on the situation in Venezuela that the European Union was calling for immediate start of political process in the country and expressed support for the opposition-run National Assembly.

Guaido, in his turn, has expressed gratitude to the leaders of the countries that have supported him.

"On behalf of entire Venezuela, I thank you for your commitment to supporting the will of the people of Venezuela," Guaido Tweeted responding to the message of US President Donald Trump, in which he recognized Guaido as interim president of Venezuela.

Guaido also thanked the presidents of Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, the foreign ministries of Peru, Argentina and Colombia, as well as European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Council President Donald Tusk and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini for their support.

The number of people arrested during anti-government protests in Venezuela has risen to 218, Foro Penal tweeted Thursday.

Earlier reports indicated 175 people.

According to the organization, nine people were arrested on January 21, 34 people were seized on January 22 and 175 people were placed in custody on January 23.

On 10 January, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for his second presidential term, which will last until 2025. The Organisation of American States, members of the Lima Group — except Mexico — and the United States refused to recognise Maduro's new term.