President Donald Trump just turned up the heat on Latin America, and he's not being subtle about it. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump made it clear that the U.S. military action in Venezuela might not be a one-time event.
A Warning Shot to Venezuela's Interim Leader
Trump's immediate target is Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, who's stepped into the interim leadership role after President Nicolas Maduro was captured in U.S. airstrikes and shipped off to a New York detention center. If Rodriguez and what's left of the Venezuelan government don't play ball with American efforts to "fix" the country, Trump warned she could face consequences even harsher than what Maduro got. "She will face a situation probably worse than Maduro," Trump said bluntly.
The president also mentioned Cuba, Venezuela's longtime ally, suggesting the island nation "looks like it's ready to fall" without needing military intervention at all.
Colombia and Mexico in the Crosshairs
But Venezuela isn't the only country on Trump's radar. He called Colombian President Gustavo Petro a "sick man" running cocaine mills and cocaine factories, and when asked about potential U.S. military strikes in Colombia if drug flows don't decrease, Trump's response was matter-of-fact: "Sounds good to me."
Mexico didn't escape the president's attention either. Trump criticized the country's powerful drug cartels and delivered a straightforward message: "Mexico has to get their act together," he stated.
The Oil Question Nobody Can Ignore
Trump's aggressive stance has triggered alarm bells across Latin America and sparked fierce debate at home. Democratic leaders have slammed the Venezuela operation as unconstitutional and reckless, with many suggesting the real motivation isn't justice but oil. Venezuela sits on some of the world's largest petroleum reserves, and that's hard to overlook.
Former U.S. envoy Richard Haass echoed this skepticism, suggesting Trump's decision to oust Maduro may be more about securing access to Venezuela's massive oil wealth than about holding a dictator accountable.
Not everyone sees it that way, though. Tech billionaire Elon Musk praised Trump's move as a political victory for the world and "a clear message to evil dictators everywhere."
The U.S. has already transported Maduro to face federal charges including drug trafficking and collaborating with terrorist organizations. Whether Trump follows through on his hints about Colombia and Mexico remains to be seen, but he's certainly made his position clear: cooperate on drugs, or face consequences.