US President Donald Trump has warned the governments of Mexico, Cuba and Colombia that their countries could face US action following the military operation in Venezuela in which American forces seized President Nicolás Maduro and conducted a ‘large scale strike’.The attack comes after Trump suggested the US is willing to put “boots on the ground” in the region due to suspicions of narco-terrorism and drug influence.

Cuba

“I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now,” Trump said when asked how Cuba should interpret the Venezuelan operation, according to Fox News.The MAGA chief also said he wants to “help” the people in Cuba: “We want to help the people. It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba, but we want to also help the people that were forced out of Cuba and living in this country.”

Colombia

Trump also criticised Colombian President Gustavo Petro, claiming the Latin American country has at least three major cocaine factories. “He’s making cocaine. They’re sending it into the United States. So he does have to watch his ass,” Trump said. Petro is an ally of Maduro and has accused the US of violating UN principles, claiming one strike off Venezuela’s coast targeted civilians.

Mexico

Trump also spoke about Mexico, alleging that President Claudia Sheinbaum is not in control of her country because drug cartels dominate it. “We could be politically correct and be nice and say, ‘Oh yeah she is.’ She is very frightened of the cartels,” Trump said. He added, “They’re running Mexico. I’ve asked her numerous times would you like us to take out the cartels. ‘No, no, no, Mr. President, no, no, no, please.’ So we have to do something.”

The Venezuelan invasion

The operation drew condemnation from the three countries, which said it threatens regional stability. Mexico’s ministry of foreign affairs said Latin America and the Caribbean “is a zone of peace, built on the basis of mutual respect, the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prohibition of the use and threat of force.”Petro said Colombia’s commitment to “peace, respect for international law, and the protection of life and human dignity.” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the attack as “cowardly, criminal and treacherous.”Several members of Congress also criticised the action, which was carried out without congressional approval, and many Democrats accused Trump of starting another unecessary war.