US President Donald Trump on Monday openly said that the United States could take military action against Colombia, just two days after American forces carried out airstrikes in Venezuela and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a dramatic operation.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump used strong language to criticise Colombia, calling the country “very sick”. He accused Colombia’s leadership of helping fuel the cocaine trade into the United States. Without naming him directly, Trump appeared to target Colombian President Gustavo Petro, claiming the country was being run by “a sick man” involved in drug production and trafficking.

When reporters asked Trump directly whether the US would consider a military operation against Colombia, he responded bluntly, saying, “It sounds good to me.”

Trump’s comments came after a major US military operation in Venezuela. During the operation, American forces launched airstrikes on Caracas, captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, and flew them to New York. Trump said Maduro would face charges related to what he described as “narco-terrorism”.

Venezuela strongly rejected these allegations. The Venezuelan government accused the United States of using drug-related charges as an excuse to interfere in the country and take control of its oil-rich resources.

Trump warned that Venezuela’s situation could be repeated in other countries in the region. He said the US would temporarily “run” Venezuela and warned that other “troubling neighbours” could face similar action. Colombia, Cuba and Mexico were all named by Trump as countries of concern.

Trump claimed that Colombia hosts at least three major cocaine production centres and again accused the Petro government of allowing drugs to enter the United States. “They are sending it into the United States,” Trump said, issuing a warning to Colombia’s leadership.

Colombia was one of the first countries to condemn the US strikes on Venezuela. The Colombian government described the attack as “state terrorism” and warned that the threat went beyond Venezuela. In a statement, it said all countries in the region should remain alert, as the danger affected everyone.

Trump also spoke about Cuba, saying that US military action there might not be needed. He described Cuba as a failing country that was close to collapsing on its own.

In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump accused drug cartels of effectively controlling Mexico. He said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had refused US offers to directly target the cartels. Trump added that “something is going to have to be done” about Mexico. Trump said his tough statements were driven by concern for ordinary people, especially those suffering in Cuba and those who have fled their home countries.