Venezuelan military does not recognize interim president

"Despite the despair and anger that surround us, the soldiers of the Fatherland cannot accept a president installed by 'dark forces' or a president who has declared himself without the rule of law," Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said on January 23, according toReuters.

Padrino said the Venezuelan military will continue to defend the country's constitution and sovereignty. Padrino's statement came hours after Juan Guaido, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, declared himself interim president. Venezuela's National Assembly is currently controlled by the opposition.

The US and many allies such as France and Canada quickly recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuela's president. Meanwhile, Bolivia and Cuba strongly supported President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro accused the opposition of seeking US support for a coup, announced the severance of diplomatic relations with the US and gave its diplomatic delegation 72 hours to leave Venezuela. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the country was not considering a solution to the crisis in Venezuela but did not rule out the possibility of using military measures.

Relations between the US and Venezuela have been strained since Hugo Chavez became president of Venezuela in 1999. In 2007, President Chavez nationalized a series of US and European companies in the fields of oil and gas, cement, iron and steel... After President Chavez passed away in May 2013, Nicolas Maduro took office as president of Venezuela and accused the US of deliberately destabilizing the country in order to seize its oil resources.