The US President has warned Russia that “all options” are on the table if it refuses to pull its troops from Venezuela.

Russian Air Force planes, believed to be carrying nearly 100 military and cybersecurity personnel, landed in the country on Saturday.

The troops reportedly brought 35 tons of military equipment with them.

The move has led to increased tensions in the region – with Russia and China backing the country’s president Nicolas Maduro, while many European countries have joined the US in backing opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Ireland has also confirmed its support for Mr Guaido.

Mr Guaido has claimed the country’s interim presidency – arguing that Mr Maduro’s re-election last year was illegitimate.

"Get out"

US President Donald Trump met with Mr Guaido’s wife Fabiana Rosales at the White House today.

During the meeting, he told reporters: “Russia has to get out.”

When asked how he would ensure this happens, he replied: “We’ll see – all options are open.”

“We are with Venezuela; we are with your husband, as you know and we are with the people that he represents – which is a big, big majority of the country,” he said.

“What’s happening there should not happen and be allowed to happen anywhere so we are with you 100%.”

President Trump tells Fabiana Rosales, wife of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó: "We are with you 100%."

Asked about Russian actions in Venezuela, the president says, "Russia has to get out." pic.twitter.com/Ckz5ir1lAG

— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 27, 2019

Following the comments, Reuters reported a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry as warning that the US should pull troops from Syria before telling Moscow to withdraw from Venezuela.

The news agency quoted Maria Zakharova as saying: “Before giving advice to somebody to withdraw from somewhere, the United States should bring to life its own concept of exodus, particularly from Syria.”

Opposition leader Juan Guaido, self-proclaimed interim president of Venezuela, greets supporters as he leaves at the end of a press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, 27-03-2019. Image: AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

Venezuela

Mr Maduro's time in office has been marked by economic collapse, hyperinflation and shortages of many basic goods and medicines.

His supporters have said many of the difficulties have been caused by international sanctions levied against his regime.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration slapped sanctions on state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela in an attempt to block revenue from President Maduro’s administration.

President Trump has warned that tougher sanctions are yet to come.

The country is also dealing with massive power blackouts.

Some experts have blamed the blackouts on years of neglect and under-maintenance – while President Maduro pointed the finger at 'US imperialism' – insisting the "electric war [...] against our people will be defeated."

Fabiana Rosales, wife of Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, speaks during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House, 27-03-2019. Image: Olivier Douliery/ABACAPRESS.COM

Morale

At the White House, Ms Rosales said the Maduro regime was “trying to break our morale.”

“They want to submerge us in eternal darkness,” she said. “But let me tell you that there is light, and the light is here.”

She said she feared for her husband’s life and warned that he had been attacked by people throwing rocks on his way out of a National Assembly session yesterday.