President Trump should recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as president of that nation. Doing so would pressure fraudulently elected president Nicolas Maduro’s corrupt regime by inspiring new opposition to him, and making clear that those who support Maduro will face a painful international reckoning when he is gone.

Yet unlike some of our forays into Latin American politics, this recognition wouldn’t be an act of arrogance on America’s part. It would be a recognition of just laws. After all, as president of the democratically elected National Assembly (which entered office in Venezuela’s last legitimate election in 2015), Guaido is vested to assume the presidency absent a legitimate president or vice president. In turn, seeing as Venezuela’s most recent presidential election last May was a tragic joke of massive proportions (fraud was rife and the ballots were stuffed in favor of Maduro) Guaido is entitled to occupy the presidential palace. Many Latin American nations recognize as much. Guaido is now recognized by Brazil, Chile, and Colombia as president of Venezuela. It’s recognition that hurts Maduro greatly.