US President Donald Trump told Colombian President Gustavo Petro to “watch his a**,” amid escalating tensions following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The warning came shortly after Maduro was brought to a prison facility in New York, nearly a day after the US launched Operation Absolute Resolve, a military campaign targeting Venezuela.
Addressing reporters, Trump said, “He’s making cocaine and they’re sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his a**,” referring indirectly to Maduro. However, Petro—one of the most outspoken critics of US military deployments in the Caribbean—decried Washington’s actions as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America, warning such moves could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
Petro has previously condemned Trump’s anti-drug operations in the region, including proposals to target drug-production laboratories in Colombia. He argued these actions risked compromising Colombia’s sovereignty and stability.
Following the extraction of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from Caracas, Trump declared that the US would temporarily assume control over Venezuela. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” he said, adding that a larger military intervention was possible if necessary.
Trump also emphasized the US’s broader strategic objectives in Latin America. “We want to surround ourselves with good neighbors. We want to surround ourselves with stability. We want to surround ourselves with energy,” he said, highlighting Venezuela’s vast energy resources as critical to the US.
Regarding Venezuelan political figures, Trump expressed confidence in Vice President Delcy Rodríguez’s role in rebuilding the nation while questioning opposition leader María Corina Machado’s domestic support. “She’s a very nice woman, but she doesn’t have the respect,” Trump commented.
On the economic front, Trump announced plans to allow US oil companies to invest billions to repair Venezuela’s deteriorated oil infrastructure, aiming to revive the industry and boost the country’s economy. Nonetheless, he stressed the existing embargo on Venezuelan oil remains in force. “The American armada remains poised, and the United States retains all military options until demands are met,” he added.
Messages to Mexico and Cuba
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted that Cuba might soon face increased pressure from the US. “If I lived in Havana and I was in the government, I’d be concerned at least a little bit,” Rubio said, reflecting long-standing US concerns about Cuba and Venezuela.
Trump also commented on the situation in Mexico, underscoring frustrations with President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government’s inability to control drug cartels. “The cartels are running Mexico. She’s not running Mexico,” Trump stated. He revealed recent offers to assist Mexico in combating cartels were declined.
