US President Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that Colombia and Cuba could face American action following the dramatic US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to reporters, Trump accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of involvement in drug trafficking, describing Colombia as being “run by a sick man” and implying Petro’s time in office could soon be cut short. When asked directly whether the United States might launch a military operation against Colombia, Trump replied, “It sounds good to me,” a comment that immediately drew international attention.
President Petro strongly rejected the remarks, insisting that his name has never appeared in any drug trafficking investigations. He accused Trump of slander and warned against threatening a democratically elected Latin American leader, stressing that his political career was rooted in a struggle for peace in Colombia.
Trump also turned his attention to Cuba, claiming the island nation is on the brink of collapse following Maduro’s removal. According to Trump, Cuba had relied heavily on Venezuelan oil revenues, which he said had now been cut off. He claimed Cuban forces were killed while attempting to protect Maduro during the US operation, adding that the Cuban government may no longer be able to sustain itself.
While Trump stopped short of confirming military action against Cuba, he suggested it might not be necessary, saying the country “looks like it’s going down.”
In Venezuela, the Supreme Court appointed Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim president, condemning Maduro’s capture as a kidnapping. Maduro and his wife are scheduled to appear in a US federal court, as Washington signals it is firmly in control of the unfolding situation.
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