WASHINGTON, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Switzerland have agreed on Friday that the Swiss will represent Washington's interests in Venezuela, said the U.S. State Department.

Switzerland will act "as a protecting power for U.S. interests in Venezuela," the department said in a statement.

However, the statement noted that as the Swiss embassy in Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, will not immediately be able to provide emergency services, Americans in the Latin American country should still go to U.S. embassy or consulate in another country for assistance.

The State Department continued to urge remaining U.S. citizens to leave Venezuela immediately.

The United States withdrew all its diplomats from the South American country weeks ago, referring the move as "temporary departure."

The Trump administration recognized Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's "interim president" on Jan. 23, days after incumbent President Nicholas Maduro was inaugurated for a second term.

In response to Washington's support for Guaido, Maduro announced that he was severing "diplomatic and political" ties with the United States.

The Trump administration recently has kept piling up pressure on Maduro.