US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric on Latin America, suggesting that Washington may follow up its intervention in Venezuela with similar action in Colombia, while also hinting that Mexico could face direct American measures. Cuba, however, will collapse on its own, Trump said, dismissing the need for US involvement there.
Remarks made aboard Air Force One
The comments were delivered late on Sunday local time as Trump flew back to Washington from his Florida residence aboard Air Force One. Speaking to reporters on the presidential plane, Trump drew sharp distinctions between different governments in the region, portraying some as active threats to US security and others as already nearing internal collapse.
“I don’t think we need to do anything there,” Trump said of Cuba, according to reporters travelling with him.
Colombia singled out in stark terms
Trump reserved his harshest language for Colombia, a long-time US partner in security and counter-narcotics efforts. He described the country as “very sick” and claimed it was led by “a sick man who likes to produce cocaine and sell it to the United States,” adding that such a situation “will not last much longer,” according to reporting by CNN.
The remarks mark a significant rhetorical shift, as Colombia has historically been treated by Washington as an ally rather than a target of coercive action.
Mexico enters the frame
In addition to Colombia, Trump hinted that Mexico could also become the subject of “hands-on” US measures, though he stopped short of outlining any specific policy steps. The suggestion nonetheless raises the stakes in an already sensitive relationship defined by trade ties, migration flows and long-standing disputes over border security and drug trafficking.
Venezuela as the reference point
Trump’s comments were framed as a continuation of the recent US action in Venezuela, which he has repeatedly described as decisive and necessary. By explicitly linking Colombia and potentially Mexico to Venezuela, the president signalled a broader regional doctrine in which narcotics production, organised crime and hostile governments are treated as matters warranting direct American response.
Regional and diplomatic implications
The statements are likely to reverberate across Latin America, where fears of US interventionism remain deeply rooted in historical experience. Governments in the region are expected to react cautiously, weighing the domestic political impact of Trump’s remarks against the practical realities of economic and security ties with Washington. For US allies, the comments introduce new uncertainty about where rhetorical pressure might translate into concrete action.
A message of unpredictability
Taken together, Trump’s remarks underscore an approach to foreign policy that relies heavily on personal judgment, blunt language and strategic ambiguity. Whether the statements represent a negotiating posture, a warning shot, or a genuine preview of future US actions remains unclear. What is evident is that, in Trump’s own framing, Venezuela may not be the final chapter in Washington’s renewed focus on Latin America.
Newshub Editorial in North America – 6 January 2026
If you have an account with ChatGPT you get deeper explanations,
background and context related to what you are reading.
Open an account:
Open an account
Recent Comments