America has formally recognised Juan Guaido, President of Venezuela’s National Assembly, as the country’s legitimate President. Mr Guaido urged his supporters to launch new protests tomorrow and Saturday. The UK, and other European countries, say they will recognise Mr Guaido on Saturday if President Maduro doesn’t call fresh elections.
Addressing a press conference Mr Bolton commented: “The President has made it very clear that all options are on the table”.
The leading Trump advisor was also photographed carrying a handwritten note stating “5,000 troops to Columbia”, a US ally which neighbours Venezuela.
On January 23 the US, Canada and a large number of South American countries recognised Mr Guaido as legitimate leader of Venezuela.
The US also slapped sanctions on Petroleos de Venezuela, a state owned oil company, on Monday.
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US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin termed it a “vehicle for embezzlement” by the Maduro regime.
He added: “The United States is holding accountable those responsible for Venezuela’s tragic decline.
“We will continue to use the full suite of its diplomatic and economic tools to support Interim President Juan Guaido, the National Assembly, and the Venezuelan peoples’ efforts to restore their democracy.”
Dozens were killed in clashes between protestors and security forces in Venezuela last week.
The Venezuelan economy has all but collapsed under the Maduro regime, with the country’s currently having an annual inflation rate of 80,000% last year.
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President Maduro is refusing to call fresh elections, and responded to opposition gains in the National Assembly by stripping it of much of its power.
According to the UN, 2.3 million Venezuelans have left the country since 2015.
Meanwhile Venezuelan defence minister Vladimir Padrino López, a Maduro supporter, said the President’s supporters are “ready to die” to defend the country.
He commented: “This is the activism that today empowers us in this new phase of defending the homeland.
“We are not going to hand it over! We are ready to die for it!”