Trump warns Colombia in threat to other drug-producing countries

Derek Wallbank and Catherine Lucey, Bloomberg News on Jan 4, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

President Donald Trump warned other drug-producing nations in the Western Hemisphere that he wouldn’t long tolerate the flow of illegal substances to the U.S.

A day after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to stand trial in the U.S., Trump said several other nations need to change their ways.

“Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States and he’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you,” Trump told reporters Sunday evening aboard Air Force One.

He was referring to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a frequent Trump critic who denounced the weekend raid.

Trump has complained about the flow of drugs into the U.S. and used economic and military action to try to slow it. He imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada over fentanyl imports. The U.S. has struck and sunk boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean that his administration claimed were trafficking drugs.

Trump said his campaign against Venezuela would weaken Cuba, one of Venezuela’s closest allies, by reducing income to Havana. He noted that “a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday” in the U.S. operation in and around Caracas. Cuban soldiers assist the Venezuelan military.

“Cuba looks like it is ready to fall,” Trump said, without offering evidence beyond its weakened economic state. “I don’t think we need any action.”

Trump took a slightly more conciliatory tone over Mexico, one of the more prolific drug-trafficking countries in the hemisphere. He has maintained a cordial relationship with its leader, Claudia Sheinbaum.

“Mexico has to get their act together, because they’re pouring through Mexico. And we’re going to have to do something,” Trump said, adding that he has repeatedly offered Sheinbaum the U.S. military to “clean up” the situation there. She has rejected his offer publicly.

“We’d love Mexico to do it. They’re capable of doing it,” he added. “But unfortunately, the cartels are very strong in Mexico.”

____

(With assistance from María Paula Mijares Torres.)