Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pledged Monday to retaliate against the United States for its new sanctions on state oil company PDVSA.

Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela's president, speaks during a televised press conference in Caracas, Venezuela, on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019. (File photo: VCG)

"I have given specific instructions to the head of PDVSA to launch political and legal action, in US and international courts, to defend the property and assets of Citgo," PDVSA's US-based subsidiary, Maduro said on state television.

"With this move, they are trying to steal Citgo from us, the Venezuelan people. Be on alert, Venezuela!" Maduro said at a ceremony welcoming home diplomats recalled from Washington following the US decision to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the acting president.

Guaido, the current leader of the opposition-led National Assembly -- which Maduro does not recognize -- said Monday that he would take control of Venezuela's foreign assets to keep Maduro from commandeering them in an eventual full exit from power.