US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued strong remarks against Colombia, threatening possible military action and sharply criticising the country’s leadership. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said that such an operation “sounds good to me” when asked directly about the possibility of US military action against Colombia.

“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,” Trump said, in an apparent reference to Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

When reporters asked Trump whether the United States would actually pursue a military operation against Colombia, he replied plainly, “It sounds good to me.”

Trump’s comments came at a time of rising tensions between Washington and several Latin American governments. The remarks followed a dramatic US operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured in what officials described as an audacious raid. Maduro was reportedly taken to New York to face drug-trafficking charges.

The US and Colombia have been facing strained relations for several months. These tensions have grown alongside an increased US military presence in the Caribbean region. President Gustavo Petro has also emerged as one of Trump’s strongest international critics during this period.

Adding to the strained relationship, Petro had last month invited Trump to visit Colombia, which is known as the world’s largest producer of cocaine. The invitation was extended so Trump could personally see the Colombian government’s efforts to destroy drug-producing laboratories.

Over the weekend, President Petro criticised recent US actions in Venezuela. He described the US operation as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America and warned that it could lead to a humanitarian crisis in the region.

Petro’s criticism focused particularly on the US military campaign against Venezuela and the targeting of small boats in both the Caribbean and the Pacific. His remarks drew a sharp and angry response from President Trump.

Reacting to Petro’s statements, Trump issued a warning, telling the Colombian president to “watch his a*s.” Trump accused Petro of enabling cocaine production and allowing the drug to be smuggled into the United States.

The situation reflects growing diplomatic friction between the US and parts of Latin America, especially following the capture of Nicolas Maduro and Washington’s expanding military operations in the region. Colombia, traditionally a close US ally, now finds itself at the centre of a heated exchange between its president and the US administration.

Trump’s blunt language and open mention of military action have raised concerns, as he did not rule out the use of force and repeated that the idea “sounds good to me.” His remarks underline a tougher stance toward governments he accuses of allowing drug production and trafficking into the United States.

At present, no official announcement has been made regarding any concrete military plans. However, Trump’s statements have further escalated tensions and drawn attention to the fragile state of US-Colombia relations amid wider regional unrest.