Colombia Rejects Having Military Cooperation Agreement With Venezuela With U.S. Warships Off Its Coast

He went on to criticize local press, claiming that some "came out to say we are giving up territory or talking about military cooperation... to face an alleged invasion by the U.S. on Venezuelan territory." "None of those thesis are within what's being discussed."

Regardless of the denial, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said that the Trump administration won't achieve any goals should it decide to pursue military actions against Venezuela.

Speaking to his cabinet, Petro said "gringos are mad if they think that invading Venezuela will solve their problems."

"They are dragging Venezuela into a Syria-like situation, with the problem that they are dragging Colombia too," he added. "I told Trump through his emissaries that it would be the worst mistake."

Petro went on to say that an eventual attack would actually be aimed at taking Venezuela's natural resources. "They would take underground riches, minerals, and that means more for death, not for life."

In this context, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the Trump administration "is prepared to use every element of American power" to deal with Venezuela.

Speaking during a press briefing, Leavitt was asked if the administration was considering having "boots on the ground" in the South American country.

"President Trump has been very clear and consistent. He is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice," she began.

"The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, it is a narco terror cartel. Maduro, in the view of this administration, is not a legitimate president. It's a fugitive head of a cartel who has been indicted in the U.S. for trafficking drugs into the country."