After Venezuela Strike, Trump Targets Colombia With Cocaine Accusations and Warning to President Petro

U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Colombia after issuing a blunt warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing Colombia of producing cocaine that is being trafficked into the United States.

🚨 HOLY CRAP! President Trump just put Colombian President Gustavo Petro on notice

“He better WATCH HIS ASS!”

“He’s making cocaine and sending it into the United States… I stick by my statement.” pic.twitter.com/5NngtXvNaO

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 3, 2026

Speaking to reporters in remarks that quickly reverberated across Latin America, Trump said Petro “better watch his ass,” doubling down on claims that cocaine production in Colombia continues unabated. The comments came just days after Washington’s dramatic action in Venezuela, where the U.S. announced the capture and removal of President Nicolás Maduro, an operation the Trump administration justified by citing alleged narco-terrorism links.

Fact Check: What Is Known

Trump’s statement is authentic and has been reported by multiple international outlets. However, while Colombia is widely recognized as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no publicly available evidence that the Colombian state or President Petro personally oversees or directs cocaine production, as Trump’s remarks implied.

Colombia’s cocaine economy is primarily driven by non-state criminal organizations, including dissident guerrilla groups and transnational cartels. The Colombian government maintains that it continues counter-narcotics operations, even as Petro has criticized the decades-long U.S.-led “war on drugs” as ineffective.

Why Venezuela Matters

The warning to Colombia cannot be separated from the Venezuela context. The Trump administration has repeatedly framed left-wing governments in the region as complicit in drug trafficking. In Venezuela, U.S. officials have long accused elements of the state of facilitating cocaine transit routes, allegations Maduro has consistently denied.

With Maduro removed, Washington’s rhetoric has widened to include neighboring governments seen as politically aligned with Caracas. Colombia and Venezuela share a long, porous border that has historically been used by armed groups and traffickers, making Bogotá a central player in any regional anti-drug strategy.

Potential Scenarios Ahead

1. Diplomatic Escalation:
Trump’s language risks straining U.S.–Colombia relations, historically one of Washington’s closest partnerships in Latin America. Bogotá may respond by hardening its diplomatic tone or seeking regional support against what it views as U.S. overreach.

2. Policy Pressure on Bogotá:
Washington could increase pressure through aid conditionality, sanctions, or public criticism, demanding tougher coca-eradication and interdiction measures.

3. Regional Realignment:
If tensions deepen, Colombia could look to diversify its international partnerships, strengthening ties with regional blocs or extra-regional powers to balance U.S. pressure.

4. Security Cooperation — With Limits:
Despite harsh rhetoric, both countries may ultimately preserve intelligence and counter-narcotics cooperation, recognizing their mutual interest in limiting cartel power and cross-border crime.

Analysis

Trump’s warning reflects a broader shift toward coercive diplomacy, where drug trafficking allegations are used not only as a law-enforcement issue but as a geopolitical tool. While Colombia’s cocaine production remains a serious challenge, conflating criminal networks with elected governments risks undermining cooperation and regional stability.

For Latin America, the message is clear: Washington’s post-Venezuela posture is more confrontational, and leaders perceived as resisting U.S. security priorities may face public and political pressure.