It’s not just Venezuela that has to expect attacks

Fight against drug smugglers

Trump: It’s not just Venezuela that has to expect attacks

US President Trump does not necessarily want to limit his fight against drug smugglers to Venezuela. Colombia’s head of state sees this as a massive threat to his country.

In the fight against organized drug smuggling from the Caribbean, US President Donald Trump does not rule out targeting other countries in addition to Venezuela. Trump told reporters on Tuesday (local time) after a Cabinet meeting that he had heard that Colombia was producing cocaine in factories that was then sold to the USA. “Anyone who does this and sells it into our country will face attacks.” When asked who this affected, he added: “Not just Venezuela.” Colombia’s leadership sharply criticized his comments.

For weeks, Trump has been tightening his tone and approach towards Colombia’s neighboring country Venezuela. The US has not only massed additional soldiers in the Caribbean and relocated several warships such as the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the region. Trump also approved covert operations by the US foreign intelligence agency CIA in Venezuela.

According to US information, the operation is aimed at combating drug trafficking. More than 80 people have already been killed in attacks on alleged smugglers’ boats. Critics see the US’s actions as a violation of international law, while Trump’s government speaks of a legitimate fight against “drug terrorists”. There are also voices that assume a forced change of power in Venezuela and American interest in the country’s rich oil reserves as the central motive.

According to Colombian President Petro, the US military also killed a Colombian fisherman as part of its operation. In response, he suspended intelligence sharing with the United States.

On Tuesday (local time) Petro warned that Trump should not threaten his country’s sovereignty. “Attacks on our sovereignty are a declaration of war,” he wrote on the X platform. He invited Trump to Colombia, where he could show him how drug laboratories are being destroyed every day so that no cocaine gets into the USA.

Relations between Bogotá and Washington have recently deteriorated massively. The US government accuses Petro of a lack of determination in the fight against the drug cartels and imposed sanctions on the politician.