Eleven major European nations have joined the US in officially recognising Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.

President Maduro’s failure to meet an international deadline for him to call a new presidential election prompted nations including France, Spain, Germany, Britain and another seven EU members to align with the US.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that “we will spare no effort in helping all Venezuelans achieve freedom, prosperity and harmony”.

Venezuela’s government responded to the news saying that it “expresses its most energetic rejection of the decision” and that the EU nations responsible were kowtowing to a United States plot to “overthrow the legitimate government of President Nicola Maduro”.

The governing coalition of Italy is however still split on the decision on whether or not to recognise Mr Guaido.

Both China and Russia are supporting Mr Maduro, each country having invested billions into the country as a way to undermine US influence in the region.

Despite being widely condemned by the international community as a dictator who has helped ruined Venezuela’s economy, Mr Maduro has consistently defied his critics and accused other nations of blindly following US President Donald Trump, who recently said that US military intervention in the country was “an option”.

Mr Maduro has consistently rejected outside offers for humanitarian aid, saying that he did not lead “a country of beggars”.

For many Venezuelans, Mr Guaido’s stance to accept foreign aid and restore democratic governance make him an attractive new leader. He has since announced that he is working on the creation of an international aid coalition.