U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated tensions in Latin America by openly threatening military action against Colombia, just days after a dramatic U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said a potential military operation against Colombia’s government “sounds good to me,” a remark that immediately rattled regional governments and raised fears of a widening U.S. campaign in South America.
The comments came as Colombian soldiers were seen reinforcing patrols along the country’s border with Venezuela, amid heightened security concerns following the U.S. raid that stunned the region.
Trump singles out Colombia’s leadership
Trump accused Colombia’s leadership of fueling the U.S. drug crisis, appearing to directly target Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
“Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” Trump said. “And he’s not going to be doing it very long.”
When asked directly whether the United States would pursue military action against Colombia, Trump did not back away from the suggestion.
“It sounds good to me,” he said.
The remarks mark one of the most explicit threats of U.S. military action against a close U.S. ally in decades and signal a sharp departure from traditional diplomatic language toward Bogotá.
Fallout from Venezuela operation spreads
Trump’s comments follow the U.S. operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who was flown to New York to face drug-trafficking charges. The raid has already triggered intense international debate over sovereignty, intervention, and the future of U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere.
While the White House has framed the Venezuela operation as part of a broader fight against narcotics trafficking and regional instability, Trump’s remarks suggest that Colombia — long a key U.S. partner in counter-narcotics efforts — could now find itself under unprecedented pressure.
Analysts say the rhetoric represents a significant escalation, particularly given Colombia’s strategic importance and its decades-long security cooperation with Washington.
Regional alarm grows
Colombia has been one of the United States’ closest allies in Latin America, receiving billions of dollars in military aid and support since the launch of “Plan Colombia” in the early 2000s. Trump’s comments, however, indicate a willingness to publicly challenge that relationship.
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Diplomatic sources in the region said Trump’s remarks are being taken seriously, especially after the U.S. demonstrated its willingness to use force in Venezuela.
“This is no longer hypothetical,” said one Latin America-focused security analyst. “After Venezuela, regional leaders are reassessing what Washington is willing to do.”
The Colombian government has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s comments.
A broader shift in U.S. posture
Trump’s statements reinforce a growing perception among diplomats and analysts that the United States is entering a more aggressive phase in its approach to Latin America, with narcotics trafficking and national security cited as primary justifications.
The president has repeatedly linked drug production in the region to the opioid crisis in the United States, which claims tens of thousands of lives annually. His remarks aboard Air Force One suggest that military options are now being discussed openly rather than ruled out.
The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter, which tracks global trade and security developments, noted that Trump’s comments could have far-reaching implications for regional stability and U.S. relations across the hemisphere.
Uncertainty ahead
For now, no concrete military plans against Colombia have been announced, and it remains unclear whether Trump’s comments reflect imminent action or a pressure tactic aimed at Bogotá.
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However, coming so soon after the U.S. raid in Venezuela, the remarks have intensified fears of a broader regional strategy that could reshape power dynamics across Latin America.
As markets, governments, and security agencies absorb the implications of Washington’s latest moves, one thing is clear: the shockwaves from Venezuela are spreading — and Colombia may now be firmly in the crosshairs.