Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido considers foreign military intervention as a measure of last resort to overthrow the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

"I do not rule our a military intervention because it is entirely clear what the Maduro regime is about," Guaido told Folha de Sao Paolo newspaper. "But this is a measure of last resort. It is important to first try to faciliate a peaceful transition," he added.

On January 23 Venezuelan National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself as the country's acting president. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has described it as a coup attempt and announced severing diplomatic relations with the United States. On January 28 the US imposed sancitons on Venezuela's state-owned PDVSA oil company.

Guaido was recognized as interim president by the Lima Group countries (except for Mexico), as well as by Albania, Georgia, the United States, and the Organization of American States. Several EU countries came forward with support for the Venezuelan parliament and expressed hope for new elections to resolve the crisis. Maduro was supported by Russia, Bolivia, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Turkey. Belarus and China called for resolving all issues by peaceful means and spoke against any interference from the outside. The UN secretary general called for dialogue to resolve the crisis.