United States President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, cautioning him to “be careful” amid rising regional tensions, just hours after U.S. forces carried out a dramatic operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump made the remarks during a press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Saturday, in a video shared by BRICS News on X. When asked about an earlier statement directed at the Colombian leader, Trump accused Colombia of being a major source of cocaine entering the United States.
“He has cocaine facilities and production centres, and they are sending drugs into the U.S. I stand by what I said—he needs to be careful,” Trump stated.
The comments followed strong criticism from Colombia over the U.S. military action in Venezuela. President Petro had earlier expressed concern over reports of explosions and unusual air activity in Venezuelan cities, describing the situation as a dangerous escalation for the region.
In a statement shared on his official X account, Petro said Colombia was closely monitoring developments and announced plans to strengthen security along its 2,219-kilometre border with Venezuela in response to the unfolding crisis.
Responding to Trump’s accusations, Petro dismissed the claims and challenged the U.S. president to visit Colombia, insisting his administration actively dismantles drug laboratories at an aggressive pace without the use of military strikes.
The U.S. operation, which Trump described as “one of the most significant displays of American military power since World War II,” reportedly involved over 150 aircraft carrying out coordinated strikes across Venezuela early Saturday morning.
According to U.S. officials, President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured during the operation and flown out of the country. They are expected to face federal charges in New York, including allegations related to narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses—claims Maduro has repeatedly denied in the past.
The incident has triggered widespread international reaction, raising concerns about regional stability and the growing use of military force in addressing geopolitical and security challenges.