US President Donald Trump has indicated that further interventions in Latin America is possible, just days after the United States confirmed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump openly suggested that the United States could take military action against Colombia, signalling that Washington’s intervention in Venezuela may not be an isolated operation but part of a broader, more aggressive regional strategy.

Asked whether he was considering a US operation in Colombia, Trump replied bluntly: “Sounds good to me.”

Trump accused Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro of presiding over what he described as a “very sick” country, alleging that Colombia’s government was involved in cocaine production and trafficking to the United States.

“The government in Bogotá is run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” Trump said. “And he’s not going to be doing it very long.”

The remarks drew an immediate and furious response from Petro, who warned that Latin America risked being treated as a “servant and slave” unless the region united against US pressure.

“The United States is the first country in human history to bomb a South American capital,” Petro said in a lengthy post on X, referring to the US strikes in Caracas. “The wound remains open for a long time. But revenge is not the answer.”

Petro called on Latin American nations to strengthen regional unity, diversify global partnerships, and resist dependence on Washington.

“Latin America must look in all directions, not only to the north,” he said.

Trump also renewed pressure on Mexico, warning it to “get its act together” on drug trafficking, further reinforcing concerns that his administration is prepared to escalate tensions across the region.

Greenland again

Trump’s assertive stance has not been limited to the Americas. In an interview published by The Atlantic, the president reiterated his long-standing claim that the United States “needs Greenland.”

“We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence,” Trump said.

The remarks prompted a swift rebuke from Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged Trump to stop threatening Greenland, which is part of the Danish Kingdom.

“It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland,” Frederiksen said. “The United States has no right to annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom.”

Venezuela after Maduro’s capture

Venezuela is now entering an uncertain and volatile phase following the sudden removal of Maduro, who ruled the country for 12 years. The Trump administration has made clear it intends to shape the country’s political transition.

Shortly after Maduro’s capture, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed office as acting president and struck a markedly conciliatory tone, calling for “cooperation” with the United States — an abrupt shift from her previously defiant stance.

Under Venezuela’s constitution, Rodríguez is required to call fresh elections within 60 days, though many Venezuelans remain sceptical.

“I’m very interested in knowing what the transition will be like,” said a Caracas resident. “What is the plan? Will she organise the elections? How can we trust it?”

Despite widespread uncertainty, Caracas has remained largely quiet. Videos obtained by CNN showed mostly empty streets, punctuated by long queues at supermarkets and pharmacies as residents quietly stockpiled essentials. There has been no sign of mass panic or large-scale unrest, nor of the pro-government paramilitary colectivos that once dominated the streets.

Opposition supporters are reportedly celebrating privately but have avoided public demonstrations, wary of the shifting political and security landscape.

Regional fallout 

The US military operation has also drawn sharp condemnation from neighbouring countries. Cuba said at least 32 of its nationals were killed during the strikes in Venezuela, intensifying diplomatic tensions between Havana and Washington.

The broader fear across Latin America is that Venezuela could be the first of several US interventions under Trump’s renewed foreign policy doctrine.

Oil, influence and unease among US firms

Trump has said US oil companies will play a central role in rebuilding Venezuela’s “broken infrastructure,” claiming American firms would “start making money for the country.”

However, US officials privately acknowledge that major oil companies remain cautious. Sources say firms are wary of reinvesting amid political uncertainty, unclear legal protections, and the risk of further regional instability.