Latest updates as Venezuela plunges into a major crisis amid a growing row over Nicolas Maduro’s presidency.
Venezuela has plunged into a major political crisis amid a growing row over President Nicolas Maduro’s future as the country’s leader. Maduro started a second term on January 10 following a widely-boycotted election last year that many foreign governments refused to recognise.
On Wednesday, Juan Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president.
Shortly after Guaido took an oath swearing himself in before his supporters, US President Donald Trump publicly recognised him as the country’s leader. In response, Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with the United States and gave the American diplomats in the country 72 hours to leave. Maduro accused Guaido of staging a coup and ordered his arrest.
US warns against “harm” to Guaido
US President Donald Trump’s national security advisor warned of “serious consequences” if any harm comes to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Bolton’s warning followed a request by the Maduro government’s attorney general for the Supreme Court to bar Guaido from leaving the country and to freeze his assets.
Source: aljazeera.com
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
