By Our Correspondent
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that a potential American military operation targeting Colombia would be acceptable, raising concerns across Latin America only days after a controversial U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump criticized the Colombian government, accusing it of failing to control drug production and trafficking. When asked whether a new U.S. military operation focused on Colombia was under consideration, Trump responded positively, though he did not provide details or confirm that any plans were being formally developed.
The remarks come in the wake of a dramatic U.S. action in Venezuela that resulted in the detention of President Nicolas Maduro, who was transported to New York to face U.S. drug trafficking charges.
The White House has described the operation as a law enforcement mission tied to counter-narcotics efforts, while critics have condemned it as a violation of Venezuelan sovereignty and international norms.
Colombian officials reacted swiftly, rejecting Trump’s comments and warning against any threat to the country’s sovereignty. President Gustavo Petro’s government said Colombia would not accept foreign military intervention and cautioned that such rhetoric could destabilize the region.
Petro has long argued that militarized approaches to drug enforcement have failed and contributed to decades of conflict in Colombia. His administration has emphasized peace negotiations, rural development, and alternative anti-drug strategies rather than expanded military action.
The U.S. operation in Venezuela has already drawn criticism from several countries. Cuba said dozens of Cuban fighters were killed during the raid, while regional leaders warned that the capture of a sitting head of state could set a dangerous precedent. Supporters of Caracas accused Washington of escalating tensions and undermining regional stability.
Trump, however, has defended the Venezuela operation as a major success in combating organized crime and narcotics trafficking, signaling a more forceful U.S. approach in the Western Hemisphere.
Although Trump’s comments regarding Colombia stopped short of announcing a specific military plan, analysts say the language represents a significant escalation. Any U.S. military action against Colombia, a long-standing regional partner, would mark a major shift in U.S. foreign policy and could strain relations throughout Latin America.
For now, U.S. officials have not provided further clarification, leaving uncertainty over whether the remarks reflect a new policy direction or heightened political rhetoric amid an unfolding regional crisis.
