United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, hinting at possible military action, just hours after U.S. forces carried out a high-profile operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump made the remarks during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort, in a video shared by BRICS News on X. He accused Petro of allowing cocaine production and trafficking into the United States, saying he stood by earlier comments warning the Colombian leader to “watch his back.”
The comments followed Colombia’s condemnation of the U.S. military action in Venezuela. In a statement posted on X, Petro said his government viewed with “deep concern” reports of explosions and unusual aerial activity in Venezuela, warning that the situation could escalate tensions across the region.
In response, the Colombian government announced plans to strengthen security along its 2,219-kilometre eastern border with Venezuela, citing concerns over regional instability triggered by the U.S. operation.
Petro also pushed back against Trump’s accusations, saying he was “not worried about anything” and challenging the U.S. president to visit Colombia to see how his administration dismantles cocaine laboratories regularly, “without missiles.”
Trump said the U.S. offensive involved about 150 aircraft and described it as one of the most significant displays of American military power in decades. Maduro and his wife were captured during the operation and flown out of Venezuela. They are now facing charges in New York, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons-related offences.
The episode adds to a series of aggressive foreign policy threats by Trump, who has previously warned of sanctions and possible military action against countries he accuses of tolerating terrorism or failing to protect religious freedoms.
