The presence of foreign diplomats, including German Ambassador Daniel Kriener, at Caracas Airport on Monday probably "contributed" to Guaido's not being arrested by Venezuelan authorities, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said.
"There was information that [Guaido] was meant to be arrested there, and I think the presence of various ambassadors contributed to helping prevent this arrest," Maas said, speaking to reporters in Berlin on Thursday, according to AP.
The remarks follow Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza's announcement on Wednesday that Germany's ambassador to Venezuela had been given 48 hours to leave the country for his "interference in the country's internal affairs." In a statement, Arreaza called Kriener's behaviour "a clear violation of the norms of diplomatic relations."
On Thursday, an EU Foreign Affairs spokesperson voiced the bloc's "regret" with Caracas's decision to expel Kriener and urged the authorities to reconsider.
Guaido himself called the Venezuelan government's move a "threat against Germany," insisting that the German ambassador should stay in the country illegally and calling on Berlin to tightened sanctions against Caracas.
The opposition leader arrived in Caracas on Monday following a trip abroad to several nations in the region.
Berlin joined Washington in recognising Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's leader after the opposition figure proclaimed himself the country's interim president on January 23. Canada, multiple Latin American nations, and other European powers also offered support for Guiado's takeover bid. Russia, China, Bolivia, Turkey and Iran, among other countries, voiced their support for the Venezuelan government, urging outside powers not to interfere in the Latin American country's internal affairs.
