President Donald Trump has doubled down on his hardline approach to Latin America, issuing a new round of threats just days after US forces dramatically captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a covert military operation.
The comments came as international outrage continued to grow over Washington’s decision to seize the Venezuelan leader and fly him to America to face 'narco-terrorism' charges.
While the White House has framed the move as a law enforcement action, critics argue the operation was designed to remove a hostile government and reopen Venezuela’s vast oil reserves to US interests.
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On Sunday (January 4), Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that America was now 'in charge' of Venezuela, despite the country’s Supreme Court appointing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader.
The 79-year-old went on to warn the South American nation that the US military could return if the country 'doesn’t behave', while also turning his attention to Colombia and Cuba.
He described both Colombia and Venezuela as 'very sick' and accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of running a government led by 'a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States'.
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“And he’s not going to be doing it very long. Let me tell you,” Trump added.
When asked whether that meant a similar operation would take place against Colombia, he replied: "Sounds good to me."
His comments triggered a response from Petro, who urged Trump to 'stop slandering' him on X and warned that Latin America must unite or risk being 'treated as a servant and slave'.
The Republican also claimed Cuba was on the verge of collapse following his intervention in Venezuela.
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"Cuba is ready to fall. Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall,” he said. “Cuba now has no income. They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it. Cuba literally is ready to fall."
As for whether he'd send his troops to intervene with power in Cuba, he claimed that it would be unnecessary.
Finally, Trump turned his attention south of the border once more, firing a warning shot at Mexico and claiming the country 'has to get their act together because they’re [drugs] pouring through Mexico and we’re going to have to do something'.
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He said that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is a 'terrific person', adding: "But unfortunately, the cartels are very strong in Mexico."
Following the manner in which Maduro was captured, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement condemning Trump's actions.
It read in part: "We express our profound concern and firmly reject the military actions undertaken unilaterally in Venezuelan territory.
"These actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter.
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"They constitute an extremely dangerous precedent for peace and regional security and endanger the civilian population."
Topics: Donald Trump
Joe Yates