Trump hints Colombia next after Venezuela military operation
發佈日期: 2026-01-05 21:02
TVB News
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Washington wants Venezuela's oil sector to serve US interests.
It comes days after a US military operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from his home in Caracas and took him to a detention centre in New York.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said the US is in charge of Venezuela and warned its vice president of consequences if she doesn't "do the right thing".
The White House released photos of US President Donald Trump watching intently as his military forces carried out its operation to seize Maduro.
Later on Air Force One, he proclaimed that the US is in charge of the country, despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio trying to tone down previous comments that Washington will "run" Venezuela.
Trump said Cuban security personnel were also killed in the attack.
"You know, a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday," said Trump. "You know that, a lot of Cubans were killed. The bodyguards... no, they're looking. There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side, but there was a lot of death on the other side. Unfortunately, but a lot of Cubans were killed yesterday trying to protect him."
The conversation then turned to Colombia and its President Gustavo Petro.
"Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States," he said. "And he's not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you."
When the reporter asked him what that meant, Trump replied: "He's not doing it very long. He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories. He's not going to be doing it very long."
Trump was asked if it meant an operation by the US, to which he said: "Sounds good to me."
Rubio, in an interview with NBC, said Washington wants Venezuela's de facto leader, Delcy Rodriguez, to protect US interests, meaning placing a quarantine on the country's oil supplies.
"Here's the bottom line on it is, we expect to see changes in Venezuela," said Rubio. "Changes of all kinds, long-term, short-term. We'd love to see all kinds of changes, but the most immediate changes are the ones that are in the national interest of the United States."
Rubio rebuffed criticism that the decision to attack Venezuela violated international law and illegally bypassed Congress.
"This was not an action that required congressional approval," added Rubio. "In fact, it couldn't require congressional approval because this was not an invasion. This is not an extended military operation."
Vice President Rodriguez, who was reportedly appointed president by a court, said Maduro is the rightful leader of Venezuela. She said the country remains united and was initially defiant after the US operation.
But she later softened her stance saying she wants to "collaborate" with Trump and ensure "respectful relations".
