Venezuela on Tuesday rejected a U.S. proposal to lift sanctions if they accept a plan for a transitional government.

"The Bolivarian government reiterates that Venezuela does not accept, nor will it ever accept any tutelage, from any foreign government," tweeted Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza.

A statement released by Venezuela's foreign ministry read that "the U.S. policy towards Venezuela has completely lost its direction," adding that "attempting to geopolitically profit" during the pandemic is "miserable."

The White House earlier on Tuesday announced a plan to form a transitional government in Venezuela that would lift U.S. sanctions and require both current President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido to step aside in favor of a five-person governing council.

The Trump administration is "the one that needs to step aside," the Venezuela's foreign ministry said, adding that the U.S., as one of the most affected countries in the world by the pandemic, should concentrate on "own serious internal affairs."

The U.S.' proposed plan comes as the U.S. is facing calls from the United Nations and other groups to ease sanctions on Venezuela as coronavirus spreads across the country. Many are concerned over its spread amid a collapsing health care system and a deep economic crisis, aggravated by U.S. sanctions and low oil prices.

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U.S to deploy Navy ships closer to Venezuela

The Trump administration is deploying U.S. Navy ships closer to Venezuela to beef up anti-drug efforts following a U.S. drug trafficking indictment against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to a U.S. official and two other people familiar with the matter.

The U.S. government is expected on Wednesday to announce the start of the enhanced drug-interdiction mission in the Caribbean, the sources said on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It follows the indictment last week of Maduro and more than a dozen current and former officials on charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, part of the Trump administration's pressure campaign aimed at ousting the socialist leader.

The naval deployment is intended to ratchet up pressure on Maduro and his allies but is not a prelude to U.S. military action against Venezuela, one person familiar with the matter said.

Venezuela's government said in a statement it "energetically rejects" the U.S. administration's announcement, calling it an effort to distract from incompetent U.S. handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Jorge Rodriguez, Venezuela's information minister, said on state television that the anti-drug operation was an attempt to divert attention from the American government's "erratic handling of the coronavirus crisis."

(With input from agencies)