Bolton warns governments, companies that deal with Venezuela to use 'extreme caution'

National security adviser John BoltonJohn BoltonJuan Williams: Biden is right on Afghanistan The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by AT&T - Biden defends Afghanistan exit; Taliban talk 'amnesty' Want to evaluate Donald Trump's judgment? Listen to Donald Trump MORE on Tuesday warned foreign governments and companies of retaliation in the U.S. if they continue to do business with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government.

“The Maduro regime now joins that exclusive club of rogue states,” Bolton said at a conference in Peru of more than 50 governments aligned against Maduro, according to The Associated Press.

“We are sending a signal to third parties that want to do business with the Maduro regime: Proceed with extreme caution,” he continued. “There is no need to risk your business interests with the United States for the purposes of profiting from a corrupt and dying regime.”

Bolton's speech came a day after the White House froze all Venezuelan government assets in the U.S.

That designation puts the South American country on a short list of U.S. adversaries, including Cuba, North Korea and Iran, that have been targeted by such aggressive financial measures.

While the sanctions do not effect Venezuela's private industry, foreign entities doing business with Maduro can receive secondary sanctions.

In a letter to Congress accompanying the sanctions announcement, President TrumpDonald TrumpDemocrats defeat GOP effort to declare 'lost confidence' in Biden after Afghanistan withdrawal Prosecutors say Jan. 6 rioters committed roughly 1,000 assaults on federal officers Texas emerges as new battleground in abortion fight MORE cited “the regime's human rights abuses, arbitrary arrest and detention of Venezuelan citizens, curtailment of free press, and ongoing attempts to undermine Interim President Juan Guaido of Venezuela and the democratically-elected Venezuelan National Assembly.”

The U.S., and the other governments at the Peru conference, in January recognized National Assembly leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela's interim president.

Guaidó and his camp allege that Maduro's last election was illegitimate.

The opposition has yet to successfully topple Maduro, despite U.S. backing.