PresidentĀ Donald TrumpĀ has set his sights onĀ ColombiaĀ as his next potential military target following the successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday,Ā January 5,Ā TrumpĀ made some crazy comments about Colombian President Gustavo Petro that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles across Latin America. The threatening remarks came just one day after American forces successfully captured Maduro in a dramatic raid that whisked the Venezuelan leader to New York to face drug trafficking charges in federal court. Trump had previously issued a stark warning to Petro during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago immediately following the Venezuela operation, telling reporters that the Colombian president ādoes have to watch his ass.ā
The Colombian government wasted no time responding to Trumpās latest threats, with the Foreign Ministry issuing a strongly worded statement late Sunday rejecting the comments as completely unacceptable. Petro, who has been a vocal critic of American foreign policy in the region, condemned the Saturday attack on Venezuela and has positioned himself as a defender of Latin American sovereignty against what he views as American imperialism.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry is expected to formally protest Trumpās threats through diplomatic channels and may seek support from other Latin American nations in condemning what they view as unacceptable interference in their internal affairs.