Donald Trump has threatened Cuba with the a “full and complete embargo” over its support for Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, a shuddering escalation of tensions that called to mind the Cold War.

On a day that saw violence erupt on the streets of Caracas as opposition leader Juan Guaido launched his latest bid to oust Mr Maduro, Mr Trump took to social media to heap new pressure on the Venezuelan president and his supporters in Havana.

“If Cuban troops and militia do not immediately CEASE military and other operations for the purpose of causing death and destruction to the constitution of Venezuela, a full and complete embargo, together with highest-level sanctions, will be placed on the island of Cuba,” he tweeted. “Hopefully, all Cuban soldiers will promptly and peacefully return to their island.”

Mr Trump’s comments came as Mr Guaido and his supporters gathered to try and oust Mr Maduro, one that ultimately fizzled. In a video posted on social media early on a day Mr Guaido had termed Operation Freedom, the opposition leader was seen outside La Carlota airbase in Caracas, urging supporters and the military to take to the streets.

By his side stood his mentor, Leopoldo Lopez, an opposition politician who had been surprisingly freed from house arrest by a small number of intelligence agents who have turned against Mr Maduro.

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 time is now. We are going to achieve freedom and democracy in Venezuela,” said Mr Guaido, saying he was going to release a list of senior officers who were backing him. “The armed forces have taken the right decision. With the support of the Venezuelan people and the backing of our constitution, they are on the right side of history.”

Protesters swept onto the streets of eastern Caracas and some other cities, where they were confronted by supporters of Mr Maduro, along with troops and police officers.

At one point, armoured vehicles ploughed into anti-government protesters as troops tried to restore order.

Events that took place in the opposition’s stronghold in a wealthier neighbourhood of eastern Caracas, appeared not to have triggered a broader military revolt.

Mr Maduro and senior members of his government denounced Mr Guaido and accused him of being a puppet of Washington.

“Nerves of steel,” tweeted Mr Maduro. “I have spoken with the commanders of all the [regional military units] the country, who have expressed their total loyalty to the people, to the constitution and to the fatherland. I call for maximum popular mobilisation to ensure the victory of peace.”

Flanked by top military commanders, defence minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez condemned Mr Guaido’s move as a “terrorist act”.

“Those who try to take Miraflores with violence will be met with violence,” he said on national television, referring to the presidential palace.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Jorge Arreaza said the “right-wing extremists” would not succeed in fracturing the armed forces, which have largely stood with the socialist leader throughout the months of turmoil.

Mr Maduro has been fighting for his political life since Mr Guaido in January declared himself the country’s legitimate leader. He quickly earned the backing of the US, UK and Canada. Mr Maduro is still recognised by Turkey, China and, crucially, Russia, which has sent troops to Caracas.

Venezuela: Heavily-armed soldiers fire tear gas at a highway overpass next to the Caracas air base

Mr Guaido’s actions came after Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second time as president. His election last year came in a ballot intentionally boycotted by much of the opposition and which was not recognised by much of the international community. Some independent observers said they believed the vote was fair.

In Washington, which has a long history of interfering in the domestic politics of Latin America, Mr Trump threatened to impose a new blockade on Cuba, which has long provided military and security trainers to Venezuela, as well as doctors. An embargo on Cuba was fist imposed in 1958, then sharply increased. Relations between the nations underwent a breakthrough after Barack Obama and Raul Castro struck a diplomatic deal in December 2014.

Mr Trump’s national security advisor John Bolton singled out three senior aides to Mr Maduro he said must make good on commitments they purportedly made to the opposition.

Mr Bolton named Mr Padrino, the defence minister, supreme court chief judge Maikel Moreno, and presidential guard commander Ivan Rafael Hernandez Dala, as having told the opposition that Mr Maduro needed to leave.

“It’s still very important for three figures in the Maduro regime who have been talking to the opposition over these last three months to make good on their commitment to achieve the peaceful transition of power from the Maduro clique to interim president Juan Guaido,” said Mr Bolton.

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who admitted working behind the scenes when he was head of the CIA to bring about change in Venezuela, told CNN the US had expected Mr Maduro to leave on Tuesday, but claimed Moscow had persuaded him to remain. “They had an air plane on the tarmac. He was ready to leave this morning.”

The turmoil on Tuesday exacerbated tensions in a country struggling with power cuts, shortages of food and medicine, and an oil-dependent economy made worse by blanketing US sanctions. More than three million Venezuelans have fled economic hardship and Mr Maduro’s increasingly autocratic rule.

Earlier this month, a report by the Washington-based Centre for Economic and Policy Research suggested up to 40,000 Venezuelans may have died as a result of sanctions first imposed in the summer of 2017. The US state department dismissed the claim.