US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States has a full range of options available to help oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and didn’t rule out “ultimately” using military action on top of diplomatic, political and other pressure points.

“We’re preparing those for him so that when the situation arises, we’re not flat-footed,’’ Mr Pompeo said on ABC’s “This Week”, one of three scheduled appearances on Sunday morning political shows.

Mr Pompeo said on Sunday that he can’t predict when Mr Maduro will be forced out of office – whether days, weeks or months.

But Nicolas Maduro can’t feel good about his situation because while he might be ruling for the moment, he can’t govern, Mr Pompeo said.

“There’s enormous poverty, enormous starvation, sick children that can’t get medicine,” the Secretary of State said. “This is not someone who can be part of Venezuela’s future.”

Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Show all 24 1 /24 Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Children play while attending a birthday party celebration at Catia neighbourhood Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Anderson Rodriguez trains on a slackline at a National Circus of Venezuela venue in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A child climbs on a bike to see an amusement park with an illuminated ferris wheel in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Andrew rides a small tricycle on the rooftop of his family house in Caracas's Catia neighbourhood Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A child reacts next to members of a folk group dressed as devils while taking part in the celebration of Los Palmeros de Chacao, a Holy Week tradition, in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Members of Family Rose softball team put their hands together before a match at Lecuna Avenue softball pitch in Caracas. "After the game we always had a few beers. But now they are too expensive," said Felix Babaza Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Oriana Contreras and her niece ride a roller coaster at Italo Americano amusement park in Caracas. Contreras said, "Sometimes, the quotidian things bore, more the situation which we are going through. We try to have fun with what we can." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Members of a folk group take part in the celebration of Palmeros de Chacao Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A bird is seen inside a cage in front of the beach at La Guaira near Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Leonel Martinez, who works as soldier, kisses his girlfriend as they spend a day at Coral beach in La Guaira. "It's a way to think about something besides what is happening in the country," said Martinez. "It's not something you can do every day, because of the situation in the country." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A young boy practices on a unicycle while hula hooping at the Teresa Carreno theatre area where friends meet to practice in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Ana Gabriela Alzola and Deniali Vega pose for a photograph at a backdrop used by customers to take pictures inside a mall in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Carmelo Gonzalez dances salsa at El Venezolano square where he meets a seniors club every Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon in Caracas. Gonzalez said, "I have fun and I work. The pension helps me a bit. You have to enjoy life, after you die there is nothing else." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Children pose for a photograph on a disused tank displayed at Los Proceres boulevard in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A boy flies a homemade kite next to Gran Mision Vivienda housing project in Caracas. The children make their own kites using a plastic bag, sticks and a nylon line. "Most expensive is the nylon cone, which is 10 thousand Bolivar notes (approximately 3 US dollars)," said Luis Flores Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Arianny Itriago sits during her quinceanera (15th birthday celebration) at Catia neighbourhood. Arianny's father, Ronny, said, "It's a family tradition to celebrate a quinceanera. Now everything is hyper expensive in our country. Everything is handled based on the US dollar, our Bolivars do not have much weight due to inflation, we are practically dollarized... The music that we hired was 80 or 90 US dollars." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Genesis Gonzalez arranges her mortarboard before posing for a photograph at Valle Arriba lookout point in Caracas. Genesis's father, Rafael, said, "My daughter is a Psychology Graduate of the Catholic University Andres Bello, despite the adversity, we must celebrate these things." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A man looks at pinatas at a birthday supplies shop in Caracas. The manager of the shop said, "People were coming after work or early on Saturdays to buy birthday supplies. Now few people come." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Children walk along a breakwater at Coral beach in La Guaira near Caracas. "A person who has a minimum wage can't come [to the beach]. The anguish that has all Venezuelans is food. First the flour and the rice." said Carla Cordova Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Yeafersonth Manrique whose nickname is B-Boy Chispa practices break dancing at the Teresa Carreno theatre area where he meets friends to dance. "When we're out here dancing, we don't think about the state of the country," said Yeafersonth Manrique, a 24-year-old drenched in sweat after a long practice. "In this world there is no crisis." Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Neidi Luzardo and his relative enjoy a ride at the Italo Americano amusement park. "The most common fun for a Caraqueno is a beach day," said Luzardo Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Belinda, a former teacher, laughs after taking a photograph of graffiti which reads 'Normality is a privilege?' in Caracas. "We, the Venezuelan people, make a joke of everything," said Belinda Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos A woman holds a child as they get ready to hit a pinata at a birthday party celebration in Caracas Reuters Venezuelans seek joy amid the chaos Victor floats in the sea as he spends a day at Coral beach Reuters

The US didn’t suffer an intelligence failure this week about the prospects of Venezuelan opposition Juan Guaido successfully leading an uprising to oust Maduro, Mr Pompeo said on ABC.

“These things sometimes take time,” he said on Fox News Sunday.

Mr Pompeo said Maduro wouldn’t be in power without assistance from Cuba, and he also dismissed the idea that President Donald Trump is out of step with his own advisers on the role Russia is playing in supporting Maduro in Venezuela.

Donald Trump on Friday said Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him he isn’t seeking to “get involved” in the crisis, although Mr Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton both said earlier in the week that the Kremlin talked Mr Maduro out of leaving Venezuela after US-backed Guaido attempted to end his regime by calling for a military uprising.

“The president has made clear, we want everyone out, and that includes the Russians,” Mr Pompeo said.

Mr Guaido on Saturday told The Washington Post he cannot rule out the option of the US military working with his nation’s armed forces.

Such an offer from the Trump administration would have to be voted on in the Venezuelan parliament, he said.

Mr Pompeo, Mr Bolton and other top national security officials were briefed on Friday on potential military options for the US.

Asked on Sunday whether military action would require approval from Congress, Mr Pompeo said he didn’t want to speak to that but added “I’m very confident that any action we took in Venezuela would be lawful”.