The Venezuelan opposition leader who claims to have defeated President Nicolás Maduro in last year’s presidential election met Monday with U.S. President Joe Biden just days ahead of Maduro's contested inauguration to a third term.

US President Joe Biden met exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia at the White House on Monday and warned authorities in Caracas against carrying out reprisals against peaceful protesters.

US President Joe Biden has called the exiled candidate for Venezuela's opposition, Edmundo González, "the true winner" of the country's presidential election last July after meeting him at the White House. In a post on social media, Biden said Venezuela deserved a "peaceful transfer of power".