Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is breaking off diplomatic relations with the United States and is giving embassy personnel 72 hours to get out of the country.
Maduro made his announcement Wednesday hours after President Donald Trump officially recognized Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim leader and issued a blunt warning to Maduro.

"We're not considering anything but all options are on the table," if there is not a peaceful transition to democracy in the South American country, Trump told reporters.

Trump's announcement came shortly after Guaido, the opposition politician, declared himself president during a day of mass demonstrations against Maduro in Venezuela.

"Today, I am officially recognizing the President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the Interim President of Venezuela," Trump said in a statement.

White House officials emphasized that while Trump is not ruling out any response, such as a naval blockade or other military responses if Maduro unleashes violence against protesters or takes action against Guaido, the most immediate action by Washington likely will be enhanced sanctions against members of Maduro's government.

"In our sanctions, we've barely scratched the surface on what actions the United States can take," said a senior administration official.

The Trump administration also is likely to impose new sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector if the political situation in Caracas deteriorates this week.

Washington is also directly applying pressure on Maduro to give up the presidency. He faces mounting global criticism following his reelection last year, an election that was widely considered illegitimate.

"We call on Maduro to step aside in favor of a legitimate leader reflecting the will of the Venezuelan people," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

The United States wants other countries to recognize Guaido. Argentina, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Peru have done so.

Bolivia says it will stand in "solidarity with the Venezuelan people and Nicolas Maduro," saying the "claws of imperialism are once again trying to deal a death blow to democracy and self-determination" in South America.

Mexico was less dramatic, saying there is, for now, "no change in its diplomatic relations with Venezuela or with its government."

France says it is closely watching developments and is consulting with its European partners.

"From a constitutional, humanitarian, and democratic perspective — and according to international law — there was no option left for the United States and the international community but to recognize Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela," Moises Rendon, associate director and associate fellow of the CSIS Americas Program, tells VOA.

Trump's recognition of Guaido as Venezuela's president is a "big and courageous move," tweeted Dany Bahar, who is a Venezuelan economist and scholar at the Brookings Institution.