The United States has ramped up pressure on Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro by formally recognising opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the country's president-elect, marking the first time the Biden administration has used this designation since July's disputed election.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday called Venezuela's Edmundo Gonzalez the country's "president-elect" for the first time, signaling that Washington wants to step up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States said Tuesday it recognizes opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as president-elect of Venezuela -- the first time it called him that -- four months after a disputed