In a significant escalation of tensions in Latin America, former U.S. President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on Venezuela and Colombia, raising concerns of prolonged instability in the region. According to CNN, U.S. officials privately acknowledge that the campaign aims to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is accused of ties to drug cartels and facilitating migrant flows. Trump confirmed authorizing covert operations within Venezuela, hinting at potential military intervention. ‘We are certainly looking at land now because we’ve got the sea very well under control,’ he stated last week. Maduro, in response, has mobilized the Bolivarian Armed Forces and claimed eight million volunteers have joined his militias, though analysts question the accuracy of these figures. Meanwhile, tensions have spilled into Colombia, which recalled its ambassador to Washington after a U.S. strike in the Caribbean killed a Colombian fisherman. Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the incident as a ‘direct threat to national sovereignty’ and described the victim as a ‘lifelong fisherman’ and ‘humble human being.’ Trump retaliated by labeling Petro an ‘illegal drug dealer,’ vowing to impose new tariffs and halt U.S. aid. He also demanded Petro shut down drug cultivation sites, warning that the U.S. would intervene forcefully if he did not comply. This deepening rift underscores the growing volatility in U.S.-Latin American relations.