Nicolas Maduro Says Venezuela And Colombia Are 'One Country' As U.S. Escalates Pressure On Both Nations

Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro said the country and Colombia are "one country" as the United States escalates pressure on both countries with military operations in the Caribbean.

"Colombia knows we are one, Siamese twins. Whatever happens with Venezuela is the same with Colombia, like a Colombian military officer wrote to me two weeks ago. If they touch Venezuela, they touch Colombia. We are one country, and we're not just saying it," Maduro said.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been slamming his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump, criticizing the strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and saying Washington wants to invade Caracas for its oil.

"Lies. They killed 27 Latin American people with missiles. It's a war crime. It's an excuse to invade Venezuela because they want to keep their oil. And in 20 years that oil is not going to be worth anything," he said in an interview with Univision. "What stupid Colombian could think of helping an invasion where their family is, where 4 million Colombians live?" he added.

In another passage of the interview, Petro said Washington "doesn't care about us at all, and they show it with their words."

"They treat us rudely and lie about us because they think we have to obey them. Trump said we're out of control. Out of his control! He is not a king in Colombia, we don't accept kings. He can speak with me as an equal. Giving me orders? No sir," Petro added.

Bogota announced on Monday it is recalling its ambassador to the U.S., the country's foreign minister said.

Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy said Daniel Garcia-Peña is already in Bogota, and Petro will inform about "decisions made about it" shortly.

Trump, on his end, has slammed Petro, most recently accusing his government of of failing to combat drug production. He called Colombia a drug manufacturing machine" and asserted that it "has the worst president they've ever had." "He's a lunatic," he added.

Earlier, Trump labeled Petro "a drug-trafficking leader" who encourages mass coca cultivation and "does nothing to stop it despite large-scale U.S. payments and subsidies." He said those transfers would end immediately, writing, "As of today, these payments, or any other form of payment or subsidy, will no longer be made to Colombia."