John Bolton Says There Will Be No Military Intervention in Venezuela:

The designation, which took effect Monday, labels the group Washington accuses President Nicolás Maduro of leading as a foreign terrorist organization and gives U.S. agencies additional legal authorities.

Bolton said the move adds "pressure" but does not however change the basic dynamics. "When an organization is designated as a foreign terrorist organization, it allows the use of certain legislative authority," he said in an interview with NTN24, adding that there is still no consensus on whether the alleged group is "really a cartel like the cartels in Mexico" or "a slogan of sorts."

Asked directly whether the designation could open the legal door to U.S. military operations, Bolton rejected the idea. "No, I don't think so," he said. "The Trump administration over the past years has been very confused, blurring the distinction between enforcing the law, on the one hand, and the abuse of military forces on the other."