President Donald Trump threatened a “full and complete” embargo of Cuba and said he would impose “highest-level sanctions” on the country if it continued military operations in Venezuela.
“Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers will promptly and peacefully return to their island!” Trump tweeted Tuesday, saying foreign soldiers had caused “death and destruction to the Constitution of Venezuela.”
Trump’s comments came after his national security adviser, John Bolton, said “Cuban thugs” were threatening members of the Venezuelan military that might otherwise support Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido.
Bolton also announced a number of steps designed to intensify pressure on President Nicolas Maduro’s government on Tuesday. Bolton publicly admonished Venezuelan officials – including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, Supreme Court chief justice Maikel Moreno and presidential guard commander Ivan Hernandez Dala – who he said had privately backed a transition of power.
The White House offered to remove economic sanctions from regime officials who allowed Guiado to seek power. And White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney reiterated the administration’s vaguely threatening line that “all options are on the table” when it comes to military action.