US national security adviser John Bolton on Tuesday warned that it would be “a big mistake’’ for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to use force against his country’s civilian uprising.

As the Venezuelan military used rubber bullets, tear gas and water hoses to battle throngs of protesters in the capital city, Caracas, Bolton praised opposition leader Juan Guaidó, referring to his call to power hours earlier as “courageous.

“This is an act of bravery by Guaidó,’’ Bolton said.

The US official added, “The sooner Maduro is gone, the sooner is the possibility of justice and real economic growth for the Venezuelan people.

“We see this as a potentially dispositive moment in the efforts of the Venezuelan people to regain their freedom.”

Still, Bolton told reporters at a press conference, “It’s a very delicate moment.

Referring to President Trump, Bolton insisted, “The president wants to see a peaceful transfer of power from Maduro to Guaidó.”

Guaidó and his supporters say Maduro stole the election from him last year and that he is the country’s rightful leader, a claim supported by the US and dozens of other nations.

The opposition leader Tuesday launched his most serious attempt yet to grab control of the government.

“This is clearly not a coup,’’ Bolton said, bristling at the Maduro government’s claim.

“We recognize Juan Guaidó as a legitimate interim president of Venezuela.

“It would be a big mistake for Maduro and those supporting him to use force against innocent civilians,’’ Bolton added, declining to discuss all the United States’ actions in the wake of the uprising, saying, “Some I’m not going to talk about.’’