The US Secretary of Defense said on Friday that Washington fully supports Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed President Juan Guaido.

Iran Press/America: In a joint news conference with Colombia's Defense Minister in Washington, Mark Esper pointed to a recent meeting of US President Donald Trump with Juan Guaido, saying that the United States stands by "Guaido."

The United States has been seeking a coup in Venezuela in recent months in support of the Venezuelan opposition.

Venezuela has plunged into a political crisis after Juan Guaido, the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president in January.

Shortly after Guaido took an oath swearing himself in before his supporters, US President recognized him as the country's leader. In response, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro broke off diplomatic ties with the US and gave American diplomats 72 hours to get out of his country.

305/