Former United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, suggesting that Colombia could be the next nation to face a potential American military intervention. This alarming statement came alongside inflammatory personal attacks on Colombia's leftist leader, President Gustavo Petro.
Explosive Comments Aboard Air Force One
The controversial remarks were delivered on Sunday while Trump was traveling on Air Force One. He launched a virulent verbal assault on President Petro, labelling him a 'sick man' who 'likes making cocaine'. This attack was punctuated by a crude warning for Petro to 'watch his a**'.
Trump's tirade was a direct response to Petro's criticism of Washington's recent actions in Venezuela. The Colombian president had condemned the US operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, describing it as an 'assault on the sovereignty' of Latin America.
"It Sounds Good to Me": A Chilling Endorsement
When journalists pressed Trump on whether the US would consider a military operation against Colombia, the former president gave a blunt and chilling reply: 'It sounds good to me.' He further escalated his rhetoric, claiming, 'Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, and he's not going to be doing it very long.'
These incendiary comments coincided with a major geopolitical event: the scheduled first court appearance of captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Manhattan's federal court on Monday. Trump asserted that the US was now 'in charge' of Venezuela following Maduro's ousting.
Calls for Peace Amid Rising Tensions
In stark contrast to Trump's bellicose language, acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez appealed for calm and diplomacy. She emphasized a priority for 'balanced and respectful international relations between the United States and Venezuela'.
Rodríguez stated, 'President Donald Trump, our peoples and our region deserve peace and dialogue, not war. This has always been President Nicolás Maduro's message, and it is the message of all of Venezuela right now.' Her plea highlights the deep regional anxiety triggered by the US operation and the subsequent threats against another sovereign nation.
The situation creates a volatile climate in Latin America, raising serious questions about the future of US relations with the region and the potential for further military interventions based on political disagreements and unsubstantiated personal attacks.
