In a fresh and alarming escalation following the US military strike on Venezuela, President Donald Trump on Sunday openly hinted at possible action against Colombia, sending shockwaves across Latin America, already reeling from the fallout of the Venezuela operation.

Speaking to reporters, Trump made pointed remarks about Colombia’s leadership, saying, “Colombia is run by a sick man, he won’t be doing it very long. Operation Colombia sounds good to me.” Hear the audio clip below:

Also Read

placeholder

The ascent and collapse of Nicolas Maduro: From Chavez’s protege to Venezuela’s embattled President

placeholder

Did Maduro’s bold threat ‘come get me’ backfire and lead to his arrest? | WATCH

placeholder

Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak links Maduro’s capture to global fight for energy reserves

The statement has intensified fears of a widening US military footprint in the region, just days after American forces carried out a large-scale strike in Venezuela that resulted in dozens of deaths and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro swiftly condemned the comments, calling the US action an “assault on the sovereignty of Latin America” and warning that such rhetoric could push the region toward a humanitarian and geopolitical crisis.

Deadly Venezuela Strike Sparks Global Alarm

Trump’s Colombia remarks come amid mounting scrutiny of the US operation in Venezuela. According to a senior Venezuelan official quoted by Reuters, at least 40 people — including civilians and military personnel — were killed in the strikes that hit Caracas and other strategic locations early Saturday.

Washington has confirmed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and flown out of the country. Maduro is now awaiting trial in New York on charges linked to drug trafficking and terrorism, according to US officials.

While Trump has defended the operation as a success, the rising death toll has drawn condemnation from multiple governments and international observers, with critics questioning the legality and long-term consequences of the intervention.

Also read: Venezuela's military recognises Maduro's VP Delcy Rodriguez as acting president

China Sees Diplomatic Opening After US Strike

Meanwhile, analysts told Reuters that the dramatic US intervention in Venezuela could offer China an opportunity to criticise Washington on the global stage, particularly amid tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Experts cautioned, however, that Beijing’s decisions on Taiwan remain driven more by domestic political calculations than by US actions in Latin America.

Still, Trump’s aggressive posture, now extending rhetoric toward Colombia, has given China fresh diplomatic ammunition to portray the United States as destabilising global order.

Cuba Braces for Economic Shock After Maduro’s Fall

The fallout is being felt sharply in Cuba, long dependent on Venezuela for subsidised fuel and financial aid. According to Bloomberg, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel urged citizens to be ready to “give their blood, even their lives” to defend Venezuela and the Cuban revolution.

The situation worsened further after Havana confirmed that 32 Cuban nationals were killed during the US military operation in Venezuela. Cuba has declared two days of national mourning. Trump, speaking to the New York Post, acknowledged Cuban deaths, saying “many Cubans lost their lives” because they were “protecting Maduro,” adding, “That was not a good move.” Economists warn that Cuba now faces deeper shortages of fuel, food, and medicine, compounding an already fragile economy.

Also read: 'Venezuela will be free': María Corina Machado thanks Macron for supporting democratic transition

 As Trump’s remarks shift focus toward Colombia, diplomats fear the Venezuela crisis may no longer be a single-country conflict but the beginning of a broader regional confrontation.