Trump: Land strikes will target ‘anybody’ involved in drug trade

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that a new phase of attacks against alleged drug traffickers will target land-based sites and “anybody” involved in the illicit trade.

​“We’re going to start doing those strikes on land… we know the routes they take, we know everything about them, we know where they live, we know where the bad ones live, and we’re going to start that very soon too,” Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday.

"Anybody that's doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack," Trump added after raising the issue of cocaine from Colombia.

"I hear the country of Colombia is making cocaine, they have cocaine manufacturing plants, and then they sell us their cocaine," Trump said.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro shot back at Trump in a post on X, arguing the South American nation destroys a drug-producing laboratory every 40 minutes - "without missiles."

Petro, who has been personally sanctioned by the Trump administration, invited Trump to participate in the nation's anti-drug offensive, but with a warning.

"Do not threaten our sovereignty, or you will awake the Jaguar," Petro said. "Attacking our sovereignty is declaring war."

He added, “Anybody that’s doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack.”

When asked if the strikes would be limited to Venezuela, Trump replied, “No, not just Venezuela,” while noting that the country has been the focus of his repeated threats.

So far, U.S. strikes have been limited to sea-based targets, including boats and submarines linked to alleged “narcoterrorism.”

Trump’s announcement comes as he increases U.S. military presence in the Pacific amid tensions with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whom he has urged to relinquish power.

Copied