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Tensions between the United States and Venezuela rose today after Washington’s national security adviser was spotted carrying a note pad with “5,000 troops to Colombia” written on it.

John Bolton’s notes were flagged up by reporters on social media following a press briefing on new sanctions against Venezuela.

The words will fuel speculation that the US is preparing to use at least the threat of a military invasion to force embattled president Nicolas Maduro from power. Colombia is a US ally and shares a 1,300-mile border with Venezuela.

The White House has not ruled out the use of force if Mr Maduro refuses to cede power to opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognised by the US as the crisis-hit country’s rightful leader.

Asked to comment on Mr Bolton’s note, a White House spokesman replied: “As the president has said, all options are on the table.”

However, a US official was quoted as saying that there were no plans for a troop deployment to the region.

It comes after Mr Bolton warned Maduro on Sunday that violence against US diplomatic personnel or Mr Guaido would prompt a “significant response” from America.

In a bid to turn the heat up on Maduro, the White House moved to block all US revenue to the crisis-torn South American country’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA.

Revenue from Citgo, the US-based subsidiary of PDVSA which imports Venezuela’s heavy crude oil and refines and distributes it in America, provides much of the cash income currently available to Maduro.

The sanctions effectively freeze $7 billion in Venezuelan assets and blocks more than $11 billion in revenue over the next year.

Venezuela Protests: January 2019 - In pictures 23 show all Venezuela Protests: January 2019 - In pictures 1/23 Opposition demonstrators clash with security forces in a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas AFP/Getty Images 2/23 Security forces look on after clashing with opposition supporters participating in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez in Tachira, Venezuela Reuters 3/23 A demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister Reuters 4/23 Members of the Bolivarian National Police clash with protesters EPA 5/23 Venezuelans opposed to President Nicolas Maduro hold a demonstration in Bogota, Colombia in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido's self-proclamation as acting president of Venezuela AFP/Getty Images 6/23 Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira Getty Images 7/23 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks to a crowd of supporters flanked by his wife Cilia Flores (L) and Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez during a rally in Caracas AFP/Getty Images 8/23 An anti-government protester wears a makeshift gas mask to protect himself from tear gas, during clashes with security forces after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, AP 9/23 Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard soldiers detain an anti-government protester AP 10/23 Venezuelans based in Mexico gather to show their support for the leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself president of Venezuela, in the Plaza de Armas of the city of Saltillo, Mexico EPA 11/23 Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guardsmen look for anti-government protesters after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela AP 12/23 An anti-government protester who was overcome by tear gas is aided by a paramedic during clashes after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro AP 13/23 A protester burns a motorcycle during clashes AFP/Getty Images 14/23 National Police officers confront opposition supporters AFP/Getty Images 15/23 Demonstrators ride in a back of a truck during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters 16/23 National Police officers confront opposition supporters protesting against the government of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/Getty Images 17/23 A vehicle is overturned as oppositors demonstrators block a freeway during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas AFP/Getty Images 18/23 A person participates in a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 19/23 People help a young woman who fainted after inhaling tear gas during a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 20/23 A person participates in a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 21/23 Thousands of Venezuelans living in Argentina, opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, hold a demonstration in Buenos Aires in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido's self-proclamation as acting president of Venezuela AFP/Getty Images 22/23 A vehicle of the Bolivarian National Police Venezuelan is burning as thousands take to the streets during a protest against President Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 23/23 Opposition demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/Getty Images 1/23 Opposition demonstrators clash with security forces in a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas AFP/Getty Images 2/23 Security forces look on after clashing with opposition supporters participating in a rally against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government and to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Perez Jimenez in Tachira, Venezuela Reuters 3/23 A demonstrator throws back a tear gas canister Reuters 4/23 Members of the Bolivarian National Police clash with protesters EPA 5/23 Venezuelans opposed to President Nicolas Maduro hold a demonstration in Bogota, Colombia in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido's self-proclamation as acting president of Venezuela AFP/Getty Images 6/23 Demonstrators during a protest against the government of Nicolas Maduro at Plaza Altamira Getty Images 7/23 Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) speaks to a crowd of supporters flanked by his wife Cilia Flores (L) and Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez during a rally in Caracas AFP/Getty Images 8/23 An anti-government protester wears a makeshift gas mask to protect himself from tear gas, during clashes with security forces after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, AP 9/23 Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guard soldiers detain an anti-government protester AP 10/23 Venezuelans based in Mexico gather to show their support for the leader of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaido, who proclaimed himself president of Venezuela, in the Plaza de Armas of the city of Saltillo, Mexico EPA 11/23 Venezuelan Bolivarian National Guardsmen look for anti-government protesters after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela AP 12/23 An anti-government protester who was overcome by tear gas is aided by a paramedic during clashes after a rally demanding the resignation of President Nicolas Maduro AP 13/23 A protester burns a motorcycle during clashes AFP/Getty Images 14/23 National Police officers confront opposition supporters AFP/Getty Images 15/23 Demonstrators ride in a back of a truck during a protest of opposition supporters against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela Reuters 16/23 National Police officers confront opposition supporters protesting against the government of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/Getty Images 17/23 A vehicle is overturned as oppositors demonstrators block a freeway during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro on the anniversary of the 1958 uprising that overthrew the military dictatorship, in Caracas AFP/Getty Images 18/23 A person participates in a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 19/23 People help a young woman who fainted after inhaling tear gas during a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 20/23 A person participates in a demonstration against the Government of the Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 21/23 Thousands of Venezuelans living in Argentina, opposed to President Nicolas Maduro, hold a demonstration in Buenos Aires in support of opposition leader Juan Guaido's self-proclamation as acting president of Venezuela AFP/Getty Images 22/23 A vehicle of the Bolivarian National Police Venezuelan is burning as thousands take to the streets during a protest against President Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela EPA 23/23 Opposition demonstrators clash with security forces during a protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro AFP/Getty Images

Mr Bolton also urged Venezuela’s military to accept a peaceful transfer of power and switch allegiance to Mr Guaido, the leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

“We have continued to expose the corruption of Maduro and his cronies, and today’s action ensures they can no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people,” said Mr Bolton.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said proceeds from America’s oil imports from Venezuela would be withheld from the disputed Maduro regime in “blocked accounts”, but the company could avoid the crippling sanctions if it recognised Mr Guaido.

He said the oil was a “valuable asset that we are protecting for the Venezuelan people.”

The US efforts to squeeze Mr Maduro were attacked by the Venezuelan leader as an attempted “coup”.

“Never before was there an open coup attempt led from Washington. Today John Bolton asked for a coup, a desperate blow,” he said in Caracas.

“John Bolton is offending Venezuelan soldiers. He offends international rights. There’s no limit to the extremist group that took over the White House. They’re like the Ku Klux Klan,” he added.

The Maduro government is now likely to look towards backers like Russia, China and Turkey to buy more of its oil.

Mr Guaido insisted in an interview with CNN that the US sanctions were made to protect Venezuela’s assets abroad. He said he had spoken to US President Donald Trump and other leaders in the region.

He said the sanctions were intended to ensure that Maduro’s government “doesn’t continue robbing the people of Venezuela”.

The move came after the Bank of England faced demands that it should refuse to release £1 billion of gold to Mr Maduro.

Mr Guaido, who has declared himself Venezuela’s rightful leader following allegations that Maduro was only elected because his strongest opponents were barred from the vote, has written to the Bank’s governor Mark Carney and to Prime Minister Theresa May asking them not to hand over the gold.