Earlier Wednesday, January 23, 2019, President Donald Trump, recognized the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the Interim President of Venezuela and affirmed he will be using the weight of the United States economic and diplomatic power ¨to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy¨.

¨Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela. In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country’s constitution to declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the presidency therefore vacant. The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law¨, states the press release by the Press Secretary of the White House.

In response, Nicolás Maduro, cut diplomatic relations with the United States and gave a 72 hour term to US diplomats to leave the country.

¨I have decided to break diplomatic and political relations with the imperial government of the United States. Out! Leave Venezuela, there is dignity here!¨, stated Maduro who added ¨Venezuela must be respected. No overthrows, no interventionism¨.

Following Trumps position and the call for other governments to recognize National Assembly President Guaido as Interim President of Venezuela, President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, announced through his Twitter account that Costa Rica ¨recognizes the proclamation of Juan Guaidó as Interim President of Venezuela. We call on dialogue, peace and new, free elections¨.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Costa Rica also offered its support through a press release to the interim-government:

¨Costa Rica expresses its support to the interim-Government that has the obligation of restoring the constitutional order, attend its obligations in the frame of international law and in particular the Venezuelan´s human rights¨.

Back on May 21st, Costa Rica had made its position clear on not recognizing the legitimacy of the electoral process carried out in Venezuela on May 20:

“We express our profound concern that the electoral process did not have the participation of all political actors, or independent international observants, which weakens democracy. At the same time we ratify our unbreakable commitment to democracy, the fundamental liberties and the State of Law based in a robust institutionalism as guarantee”.

Other countries that have expressed their support for Guaidó include: Ecuador, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Canada, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile. President of the Organization of American States also stated its support.