Venezuela to close its U.S. embassy, consulates: Maduro

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Venezuela is to close its embassy and all consulates in the United States, President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday during a speech delivered to Venezuelan Supreme Court.

Maduro warned that if U.S. officials "have any sense" they will pull out their own diplomats from the U.S. embassy in Caracas, rather than defying his order for them to leave.

"They believe they have a colonial hold in Venezuela, where they decide what they want to do," Maduro said in an address broadcast live on state TV. "You must fulfill my order from the government of Venezuela."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) with judges and members of the Supreme Justice Tribunal on its annual opening day of sessions in Caracas, Venezuela, January 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

During his speech, he also addressed Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido's act of taking oath as the country's "interim president" as a political coup conspired with the support of the United States.

Maduro added that he agreed with a call by Mexico and Uruguay for dialogue between Venezuela's government and the opposition for a resolution to the country's political crisis.

Maduro on Wednesday announced he was severing "diplomatic and political" ties with the U.S. and gave U.S. diplomats 72 hours to leave the country after the U.S. authorities recognized Guaido as the nation's interim president.

U.S. orders some diplomats to leave

The U.S. State Department on Thursday ordered some U.S. government workers to leave Venezuela and said U.S. citizens should consider leaving the country.

In a security alert, the U.S. embassy in Caracas said non-emergency U.S. government employees had been told to leave Venezuela and American citizens should "strongly consider" departing while commercial flights were still available.

A U.S. flag waves at the U.S. embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, January 24, 2019. /VCG Photo

"The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Venezuela," it added.

However, the U.S. State Department officials have not answered questions on how many U.S. personnel remain in Venezuela.

For years, the U.S. has been implementing diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions on Venezuela. Right before Maduro's inauguration on January 10, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on seven Venezuelan individuals and 23 entities, accusing them of involvement in a corruption scheme.

Venezuelan military backs Maduro

The National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela pointedly reiterated their loyalty to Maduro on Thursday.

In a statement read out to the press by Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, the military top brass called Maduro the "legitimate president" and Guaido's move a "coup."

"It's not a war between Venezuelans that will solve our problems," he said. "It's dialogue."

Vladimir Padrino Lopez, Venezuela's defense minister (R), during a press conference at the Ministry of Defense in Caracas, Venezuela, January 24, 2019 /VCG Photo

Following Padrino Lopez's lead, eight other top generals declared their "absolute loyalty and subordination" to Maduro and joined Maduro in accusing the U.S. of meddling in Venezuela's affairs during a live address on state television.

(Top image: A file photo of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, U.S., March 6, 2013 /VCG Photo)

(With inputs from agencies)