It comes as Mr Trump’s hawkish security advisor John Bolton will spell out more details about the US President’s policy towards the South American country during a briefing in Miami tomorrow.
Mark Fitzpatrick, director of the Americas branch of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) made his remarks after Marshall Billingslea, assistant secretary for terrorist financing at the Treasury Department described the regime of President Nicolas Maduro as posing “a clear threat to regional stability and security” which represented a “direct challenge” to the United States.
His words echoed those of Mr Trump himself during the summer, who broached the idea of direct military action in response to a crisis which has seen as many as 1.9 million Venezuelans fleeing the country since 2015, according to the United Nations, with millions living as refugees in neighbouring countries.
He said: “Venezuela is not very far away and the people are suffering and dying.
“We have many options for Venezuela, including a possible military option, if necessary.”
At the time, numerous media outlets suggested Mr Trump had been talked out for the idea by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and national security adviser HR McMaster, both of whom have since left Mr Trump’s administration,while Mr Trump recently hinted that Mr Mattis could be next out of the door, explaining: “He may leave, everybody leaves.”
Mr Fitzpatrick told Express.co.uk: “The US foreign policy establishment laughed at Trump’s talk about military action against Venezuela.
“It is inconceivable as long as a sober-minded statesman like Jim Mattis is Secretary of Defense.
“Even John Bolton would oppose the idea as a distraction from the real issues facing America.
“Venezuela is a side-show. It is not a direct challenge to the US.
“But with the huffing and puffing of hardliners like Billingslea, one cannot put military action of some kind out of the question after Mattis leaves, which may come this winter.”
Mr Fitzpatrick also scotched suggestions that a poor showing for the Republicans on Tuesday would make Mr Trump reluctant to make changes to his team.
He explained: “The midterm results won’t affect his ability or inclination to shuffle the Cabinet.”
Mr Bolton will deliver his remarks at Freedom Tower, a building where Cuban refugees were welcomed in the 1960s after leaving the Communist-controlled island.
Mr Trump, who visited Florida himself today to campaign for Republican candidates in the midterms, last month linked Venezuela’s economic collapse to “its Cuban sponsors” in a speech to the United Nations.
Mr Bolton is expected to elaborate on that theme, a senior administration official told reporters earlier this month.
The White House also wants to increase pressure on Venezuela.
On Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed working on the issue with Brazil’s new President-elect Jair Bolsonaro.
The US government has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Venezuelan military and political figures close to Mr Maduro.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration had weighed escalating sanctions by targeting Venezuela’s oil sector, but now sees less immediate need to do so given reduced levels of production by the OPEC member.