Colombia To Withdraw Diplomats From Venezuela As Soon As Possible - Foreign Minister

MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th February, 2019) Colombia will withdraw diplomats from Venezuela as soon as possible to ensure their security, Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro decided to cut off diplomatic and political relations with Colombia, which hosts one of the hubs for humanitarian aid deliveries to Venezuela.

"[The Colombian government] organizes withdrawal of [diplomatic] officials [from Venezuela] to Colombia as soon as possible to protect their lives and ensure their immunity," the minister said, as quoted by the Foreign Ministry's statement.

The ministry pointed out that Colombia was not recognizing Maduro as the president of Venezuela.

"Colombia does not recognize legitimacy of usurper Maduro. Colombia recognizes [opposition leader] President Juan Guaido and is grateful to him for invitation for Colombian diplomatic and consular officials to stay on the Venezuelan soil," the ministry added.

The situation in crisis-torn Venezuela escalated on January 23 when the opposition leader Guaido, declared himself interim president, disputing last year's reelection of Maduro. Guaido was almost immediately recognized by the United States and some other countries, including Colombia. Russia, China, Mexico, among other nations, voiced support for Maduro, who, in turn, accused Washington of orchestrating a coup.