Venezuela to sever ties with Paraguay in support of Maduro's opposition

Venezuela has declared a break with Paraguay for supporting President Nicolas Maduro's opposition.

"The president of Paraguay has interfered in internal affairs in defiance of international protocols," the Venezuelan government said, "and decided to sever diplomatic relations with Paraguay and immediately withdraw our diplomats."

Paraguay's President Santiago Peña expressed strong solidarity with the Venezuelan opposition, which he claims won the country's presidential election in July last year.

In response, the Venezuelan government denounced it as "an act of subordinating foreign policy to foreign interests by promoting an agenda that undermines democratic principles and the will of the free people."

Venezuela criticized Paraguay, referring to the so-called "Lima Group," which backed then-Parliamentary Speaker Juan Guaidó instead of Maduro following a controversy over the fraudulent presidential election in 2017.The

Lima Group is a consultative body that pressed Maduro's regime in step with the U.S. government to find a peaceful solution to the Venezuelan crisis.

Earlier, since January 2019, former National Assembly Speaker Guaidó has been leading the opposition by claiming to be an "interim president" and resigned in disgrace at the end of December 2022 after losing his focal point, while Venezuela's "two presidents with one roof" situation has also ended in four years.