Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s government stepped up a diplomatic spat with neighbor Brazil on Thursday, accusing it of putting Venezuelan diplomats under “undue pressure” to leave the country within 48 hours. Brazil is one of around 60 countries to recognize Maduro’s opposition rival Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s acting president and announced on March 5 it was ordering Maduro-appointed diplomats to withdraw. The foreign ministry in Caracas accused Brazil of “attempting to force the premature departure of Venezuelan diplomatic and consular staff by May 2,” and said no talks had taken place over the exit.
