United States President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a sharp warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, saying he should “watch his ass” following a US military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump made the remark during a press conference, amid rising diplomatic tensions in the region after the dramatic US action in Venezuela.
“Well, he has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine, and yeah, I think I stick by my first statement. He’s making cocaine, they’re sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass,” Trump declared during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The comment comes after months of strained relations between Washington and Bogotá, during which both leaders have exchanged sharp criticisms.
Reacting to the development, President Petro condemned the US operation, describing it as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin American nations.
He warned that the move could trigger a humanitarian crisis in the region, amid fears of political instability and regional fallout following Maduro’s arrest.
He wrote, “The Government of the Republic of Colombia observes with deep concern the reports of explosions and unusual aerial activity recorded in recent hours in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as well as the consequent escalation of tension in the region.”
The Colombian government also revealed plans to fortify its 2,219-kilometre eastern land border with Venezuela following the U.S. military operation.
The seizure of the Venezuelan leader has continued to generate strong reactions across Latin America, with several governments expressing concern over the implications for regional peace, sovereignty, and diplomatic norms.