US President Donald Trump has threatened possible military action against Colombia, sparking a sharp diplomatic backlash from Bogotá.
Trump made the remarks aboard Air Force One, days after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a raid and flew him to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.
In comments widely seen as directed at Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Trump said Colombia was “very sick,” alleging it was being run by “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
Asked whether Washington would consider a military operation against Colombia, Trump replied: “It sounds good to me.”
Colombia swiftly rejected the comments, describing them as hostile and unlawful. In a statement, the Colombian Foreign Ministry said the remarks amounted to “an unacceptable threat against an elected leader.”
“It represents undue interference in the internal affairs of the country and violates the norms of international law,” the ministry said.
The exchange adds to rising tensions in the region following the US operation in Venezuela and growing unease among Latin American governments over Washington’s rhetoric.
