The European Union on Monday urged countries to avoid any military intervention in Venezuela, the spokeswoman for diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said.

A Colombian soldier (C-L) accompanies a member (C-R) of the Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela after he deserted, in Cucuta, Colombia, on the border with Venezuela, on February 24, 2019. (File photo: VCG)

"We must avoid a military intervention," Maja Kocijancic told reporters, as Venezuela's opposition leader and self-declared president Juan Guaido was in Bogota to hold talks with allies in the regional Lima Group of countries on measures to compel President Nicolas Maduro to leave office.