PARIS – France has announced new diplomatic measures against Venezuela, requiring the South American nation to reduce its diplomatic staff in Paris. This decision comes in response to similar actions previously taken by Venezuela against France, Italy, and the Netherlands. 

Venezuelan authorities had labeled these countries as "hostile" due to their stance on President Nicolás Maduro’s new term. In a retaliatory move, France has given some Venezuelan diplomats five days to leave the country. 

“This decision is a countermeasure following the Venezuelan authorities' action on January 14 to reduce our diplomatic presence in Caracas,” stated an official French declaration. 

President Maduro began his third term earlier this month, a tenure marred by allegations of electoral fraud. The opposition claims that their candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, was the legitimate winner of the presidential election. 

The Netherlands has also reduced the number of Venezuelan diplomats in its territory, cutting it from four to two.