Venezuela’s Maduro Captured as Trump Warns Cuba, Mexico and Colombia Could Be Next

The United States dramatically escalated tensions across Latin America after launching airstrikes on Venezuela’s capital Caracas, capturing President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, and transporting them to the United States to face charges related to alleged narco-terrorism.

Following the operation, US President Donald Trump declared that Washington would temporarily “run” Venezuela and issued stark warnings to neighbouring countries, saying Cuba, Mexico and Colombia could face similar action if the United States deemed it necessary.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Trump justified the Venezuela operation by accusing the Maduro government of manufacturing drugs, harbouring cartels and sending narcotics into the US to “destroy American lives.” He said the action was unavoidable and warned that the same logic could apply to other countries in the region.

Trump singled out Mexico, claiming the country was being controlled by drug cartels rather than its elected leadership. Referring to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump alleged that repeated US offers to help dismantle cartels had been rejected.

“They’re running Mexico,” Trump said, referring to criminal groups. “Something’s going to have to be done.”

The US President also turned his attention to Cuba, describing the island nation as a “failing country” and suggesting it could soon come under increased US scrutiny. He said Washington wanted to help both Cubans living on the island and those who had fled to the United States, framing potential intervention as humanitarian in nature.

Trump further escalated his rhetoric by directly targeting Colombia. Accusing the country of hosting major cocaine production facilities, he warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro to “watch himself,” alleging that drugs produced there were being funnelled into the US.

Colombia responded sharply, becoming one of the first nations to condemn the US strikes on Venezuela. The Petro government described the operation as “state terrorism” and warned that all countries in the region should remain alert.

“All nations of South America must remain vigilant, as this threat hangs over the entire region,” Colombia said in an official statement. The government also announced the mobilisation of troops along its border with Venezuela amid fears of instability and a possible refugee influx.

The US military operation, carried out overnight, targeted key infrastructure in Caracas before Maduro and his wife were taken into custody and flown to New York. Trump later confirmed that Maduro had been removed from power, stating that the United States would oversee Venezuela until a “safe and orderly transition” could be arranged.

Venezuela strongly rejected the charges and denounced the operation as an illegal act of aggression. The government accused Washington of using drug-related allegations as a pretext to seize control of the country’s vast oil reserves and natural resources.

The unprecedented action and Trump’s warnings to other Latin American nations have triggered alarm across the region, raising fears of further military interventions and a broader geopolitical crisis in the Western Hemisphere.