US President Donald Trump on Monday warned of a possible second military strike in Venezuela, days after US forces carried out a covert operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said a follow-up operation remained an option. “We were prepared to do a second strike,” he said. When asked whether further action was ruled out, he added: “If they don’t behave, we’ll do a second strike.”
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The remarks come amid uncertainty over Venezuela’s political future following the US-led operation, which took place late at night in Caracas. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into custody and flown to New York, where they are facing trial on charges linked to an alleged narco-terrorism conspiracy, according to US officials.
Trump hints at Colombia, comments on elections
Trump also appeared to suggest that similar action could be taken elsewhere in the region. Referring to Colombia, he criticised President Gustavo Petro, describing the country as being run by a “sick man”. When asked whether the US could pursue a military operation there, Trump responded, “It sounds good to me.”
“Colombia is very sick, too, run by a sick man, who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” Trump said while speaking aboard Air Force One.
On Venezuela’s internal politics, Trump said the immediate focus was on addressing problems left behind by Maduro’s government rather than holding elections. His comments echoed recent remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said elections in Venezuela would be “premature” at this stage.
“We are going to give people an opportunity to address those challenges and those problems,” Trump was quoted as per a report by AFP.
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Rubio has also said that Washington is not seeking to manage Venezuela’s day-to-day governance. In a recent CBS News interview, he said the US role would be limited to enforcing an existing oil quarantine and using it as leverage to push for political changes.
Earlier, Trump had suggested the US could “run” Venezuela temporarily until a power transition was in place, comments that Rubio later sought to soften.
