John Bolton in his rare statement specifically pointing to Russia's recent deployment of troops and military equipment to the Latin American nation, saying President Nicolas Maduro will only use it "to further repress the people of Venezuela."
According to Bolton: The Administration condemns Nicolas Maduro’s continued use of foreign military personnel in his attempt to remain in power, including the introduction of Russian military personnel and equipment into Venezuela. Maduro will only use this military support to further repress the people of Venezuela; perpetuate the economic crisis that has destroyed Venezuela’s economy; and endanger regional stability. We call on the Venezuelan military to uphold its constitutional duty to protect the citizens of Venezuela.
We strongly caution actors external to the Western Hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela, or elsewhere in the Hemisphere, with the intent of establishing or expanding military operations. We will consider such provocative actions as a direct threat to international peace and security in the region.
"We will continue to defend and protect the interests of the United States, and those of our partners in the Western Hemisphere, which are rooted in a shared respect for liberty, security, and the rule of law," he added.
Trump earlier this week issued a stark warning to Russia, telling Moscow to withdraw its forces from Venezuela, and issued a veiled threat of military intervention to break the country's political deadlock.
Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov has said that the arrival of a group of Russian military personnel in Caracas fully agrees with the level of cooperation with Venezuela’s legitimate government.
"All this fits in with normal relations with Venezuela’s legitimate government," he told the media.
Further more, Russian Foreign Ministry had earlier stated that Moscow is not in anyway violating international law in Venezuela, unlike the United States, stressing that Washington aims to derail the situation in the Latin American country by supporting self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido.
Venezuela has been in the throes of humanitarian and economic crises amid a political deadlock between opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself the country's interim president in January.
Dozens of nations, including the U.S., Canada and most Latin American states, have recognized Guaido as the country's leader as Washington has ramped up diplomatic and economic pressure on Caracas, including sanctioning its state-run oil company.
Maduro, who is strongly supported by Russia and Cuba, has refused to cede power, instead insisting he is the target of a U.S.-orchestrated coup.
The political stalemate comes as Venezuela grapples with a worsening economic crisis that has led to acute shortages of goods and which has repeatedly resulted in widespread power outages.
Its economy has been in precipitous decline following a global downturn in the price of crude oil, the country's main export.
WhiteHouse
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