A press conference held by John Bolton suggested the US might send 5,000 troops to Venezuela.

Things are getting dangerous in the standoff between the United States and Venezuela.

National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Monday that “all options are on the table” when it comes to removing Nicolas Maduro from power.

5,000 Troops To Columbia.

During his press conference on Monday a notebook was spotted in Bolton’s hand that had the words “5,000 troops to Columbia scribbled on it.

The writing has many believing that it could mean the United States has plans to take military action in the socialist nation.

The United States and many other Western nations now recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.

But Maduro has shown no signs of being willing to cede power to Guaido.

The question now becomes what is the United States willing to do in a military capacity to push the transition of power.

All Options Are On The Table.

Bolton struck a more aggressive tone in his talk about the pressure that could be placed on Maduro.

“We also today call on the Venezuelan military and security forces to accept the peaceful, democratic and constitutional transfer of power,” he said.

“To a certain extent, this has begun,” Bolton said. “We’ve seen Venezuelan official and military personnel heeding this call.”

When asked if President Donald Trump would support military action in Venezuela Bolton said “The president has made it clear on this matter that all options are on the table.”

Sanctions To Add Pressure.

The press conference took place to announce sanctions against Petroleos de Venezuela. The state-owned energy company.

The move is designed to deny access to funds for Maduro.

“We want to prevent the usurper and his gang from scraping the bottom of the barrel and continue stealing Venezuelans’ money,” Guaido said on Monday.

The move is expected to block $7 billion in assets and also cost Venezuela $11 billion in exports, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“The purpose of sanctions is to change behavior,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters. “So when there is a recognition that the company is the property of, the rightful rulers, the rightful leaders, then indeed that money will be available to Guaido.”