President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to both Cuba and Colombia on Saturday in the aftermath of the U.S. military's apprehension of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The President's comments suggest a more assertive approach to leftist governments in the Western Hemisphere.
During a press conference that followed Maduro's arrest, President Trump implied that the recent operation in Venezuela was not just about Caracas, but also served as a cautionary tale for other regimes. "I think Cuba is going to be something we'll end up talking about," he stated, referencing Cuba's current economic struggles and the long-standing communist governance that he believes has failed its citizens.
"We're going to run the country until we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition," President Trump declared regarding the future of Venezuela.
This comes after President Trump reinstated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism shortly after assuming office, a reversal of a previous administration's policy, which has led to the reapplication of stringent sanctions on the nation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba, reinforced the President's sentiments, criticizing the Cuban leadership and suggesting that its government officials should be wary.
In a similar vein, President Trump also explicitly warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing his government of facilitating the narcotics trade into the United States. "He has cocaine mills," President Trump remarked, alluding to the production of drugs within Colombia and the consequent threat he believes it poses to the U.S.
The backdrop to these warnings is Operation Absolute Resolve, a military mission that saw the deployment of 150 aircraft and elite ground forces to detain Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The couple is now en route to the United States to face charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons-related offenses.
President Trump authorized this decisive operation and then moved quickly to action, with U.S. forces conducting air and ground assaults throughout Venezuela. Notably, Delta Force personnel captured Maduro, who was subsequently transferred to the USS Iwo Jima.
An image of a blindfolded Maduro in custody was shared by President Trump ahead of the press conference, symbolizing the administration's resolve against regimes linked to narcotics.
The President also took a moment to justify his decision not to inform Congress prior to the mission, citing concerns over potential leaks that could jeopardize American troops' safety. Furthermore, he commented on the U.S.'s temporary governance over Venezuela during a transition period, with scant details but a mention of using the country's oil reserves for its recovery, overseen by Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
As protests broke out in Havana in support of Maduro, President Trump's message was clear: the capture of Maduro might just be the beginning of a broader strategy to reshape the political order in the region, potentially through force.
