As the main reason for the cessation of operations, Freeland pointed out that at the end of this June, Canadian diplomats in Venezuela will no longer be able to obtain diplomatic accreditation and their visas will expire.

“Therefore, we have no choice but to temporarily suspend our operations at the Canadian Embassy in Venezuela, effective immediately,” he added.

The Trudeau government, which has strongly criticized Maduro and even imposed sanctions on him, also stressed in the document that it would continue to “defend the rights of the Venezuelan people and the full return to democracy” in this South American country. .

Political tension in Venezuela has increased since last January, when Maduro took on a new six-year term that the opposition and part of the international community do not recognize.

In response, the head of Parliament, the opposition Juan Guaidó, proclaimed himself interim president and received the support of around fifty countries, including the United States, Canada and a large part of the countries of America Latin.

Guaidó has promised he will call elections once Maduro's “usurpation” of the presidency stops, and on Saturday he predicted at a mass event in Barinas state that Chavismo would soon leave power.

Despite significant foreign support, Guaidó still does not control Venezuelan state institutions and his top aide, Roberto Marrero, has been arrested for the alleged crime of rebellion.

Maduro, for his part, believes he has been the victim of attempted “coups” sponsored, according to him, by the United States and other nations.