U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened possible military action against Colombia, triggering an angry diplomatic response from Bogotá following a dramatic U.S. operation in Venezuela.
The comments were made on Sunday, January 5, 2026, after United States forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a raid carried out early Saturday and transported him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump launched a scathing attack on Colombia’s leadership, making remarks widely interpreted as targeting Colombian President Gustavo Petro.
“Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, but he’s not going to be doing it very long,” Trump said.
When asked directly whether the United States would consider a military operation against Colombia, the president replied: “It sounds good to me.”
The comments immediately sparked outrage in Colombia, with government officials describing them as reckless and dangerous.
In a strongly worded statement, Colombia’s Foreign Ministry rejected Trump’s remarks, calling them “an unacceptable threat against an elected leader.”
The ministry added that the comments amounted to undue interference in Colombia’s internal affairs and were contrary to established norms of international law.
“It represents undue interference in the internal affairs of the country and violates the principles of international law,” the statement said.
The escalating rhetoric has raised concerns over regional stability, particularly following the unprecedented U.S. raid that led to the detention of Venezuela’s sitting president.
Analysts warn that further escalation could strain diplomatic relations across Latin America and deepen tensions between Washington and regional governments.
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