US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Venezuela's military to desert President Nicolas Maduro, in a joint appeal with Brazil.

According to him, the US will impose “a lot tougher” sanctions on the Nicolás Maduro regime if needed.

"We call on members of the Venezuelan military to end their support for Maduro, who is really nothing more than a Cuban puppet," Trump told a joint news conference at the White House with Brazil's new right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro.