In a significant development in Latin American geopolitics, former US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, telling him to 'watch his ass' following a US military operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The US forces apprehended Maduro on January 3, 2026, in Caracas, Venezuela, and subsequently transported them to New York to face federal charges including narco-terrorism and cocaine importation. Trump's aggressive remarks, made aboard Air Force One and at a press conference, accused President Petro of overseeing 'cocaine mills' and 'factories' that produce and export cocaine to the United States. He also referred to Petro as a 'sick man' and hinted at potential US military action against Colombia, stating that such a move 'sounds good to me.' These comments escalated already simmering tensions between Washington and Bogotá, with Petro having previously been critical of US military operations in the Caribbean. Colombian President Petro vehemently rejected Trump's accusations and condemned the US operation in Venezuela as an 'assault on the sovereignty' of Latin America, warning of a potential humanitarian crisis. Petro also deployed security forces to the Colombia-Venezuela border in anticipation of a possible influx of refugees. Despite the initial aggressive rhetoric, Trump and Petro later had a phone call where they reportedly discussed disagreements, with plans for a future meeting. The unprecedented capture of a sitting head of state by US forces has triggered widespread reactions across Latin America and drawn criticism from countries like Russia and North Korea, while the UN Security Council convened to discuss the US action.