Wayne Lumbasi
U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply escalated tensions in Latin America by openly threatening a possible military operation against Colombia, days after a controversial U.S. raid in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolàs Maduro. The remarks, delivered casually but with serious implications, have alarmed regional governments and raised fears of a broader destabilization across the Americas.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump accused Colombia of allowing cocaine production and trafficking to flourish, blaming the country for the continued flow of drugs into the United States. When asked whether Washington might consider military action against Colombia, a long-standing U.S. ally, Trump responded bluntly that such an operation “sounds good to me,” marking one of the most aggressive public statements ever directed at Bogota; by a sitting U.S. president .
The comments came in the immediate aftermath of a dramatic U.S. operation in Venezuela, where American forces carried out a cross-border raid that resulted in the arrest of President Maduro and his wife, who were transferred to the United States to face drug-related charges. Washington described the mission as a law-enforcement action aimed at dismantling what it called a narco-state leadership. The operation, however, bypassed international legal mechanisms and triggered widespread condemnation across Latin America and Europe .
Trump has since defended the Venezuela raid as necessary, claiming it struck a decisive blow against organized crime networks operating in the region. He further suggested that U.S. involvement in Venezuela could be extended temporarily to stabilize the country, a statement that has deepened concerns about renewed American interventionism in the hemisphere .
Colombia’s inclusion in Trump’s rhetoric has been particularly striking. For decades, Colombia has been one of Washington’s closest regional partners, especially in counter-narcotics and security cooperation. While disagreements over drug policy and peace efforts with armed groups have strained relations in recent years, the threat of military action represents a dramatic and unprecedented deterioration in ties.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has rejected Trump’s accusations and warned against treating sovereign nations as targets of coercion. Petro called for regional unity and emphasized that drug trafficking is a shared international problem that cannot be solved through threats or force. Other Latin American leaders echoed similar concerns, warning that unilateral military action would undermine regional stability and international law .
International reaction has been swift. Governments across the Americas expressed unease over the Venezuela raid, with many viewing it as a dangerous precedent. European officials also voiced concern, noting that even deeply contested leaders must be addressed through legal and diplomatic frameworks rather than force. Critics argue that Trump’s remarks toward Colombia risk unraveling decades of security cooperation and could push regional governments to seek new alliances outside U.S. influence .
RELATED:
