Juan Guaidó

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met Monday with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, vowing a new era for a relationship that was severed under far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in an interview that he is ready to work to normalize relations with the United States, despite ongoing sanctions crippling his country.

For three years, Juan Guaidó led the Venezuelan opposition's efforts to bring about new elections and remove socialist President Nicolás Maduro.

Venezuela's electoral authority on May 13 announced mayoral and gubernatorial elections for November 21 as President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition made moves to restart stalled talks.

President Nicolas Maduro on Feb. 17 said he is "not afraid of military combat," accusing his US counterpart Donald Trump of plotting to invade Venezuela with the support of regional allies.

Venezuela's diplomats are reported to have 48 hours to leave the country.

Earlier, President Salvador Bukele said the US was "his country's number one ally."

Balkan allies of the US were quick to recognise Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate interim president. Serbia refuses to follow suit.

The U.S. State Department on Aug. 28 opened a representative office for Venezuela in Bogota, Colombia, and said it will continue its opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and support for opposition leader Juan Guaido from there.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Aug. 20 he had authorized contact with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump "for months," in an effort to repair relations with Washington.

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido thanked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for his recognition as interim president of the country over a phone call on Monday.
Guaido said he appreciated Greece's support in the European Union "for the restoration of democracy" in Venezuela.