US President Donald Trump has threatened military strikes on Colombia amid rising tensions over drug trafficking.

Speaking at the White House, he said: “If they come in through a certain country, any country … I hear Colombia is making cocaine … anybody doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack.”

The President’s comments come amid rising tensions with Venezuela over ships allegedly trafficking drugs into the US. The Trump administration has doubled the reward for information leading to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s capture.

According to reports, Mr Trump urged Maduro to leave Venezuela and relinquish power during a phone call, but Maduro refused.

The US President held a security meeting on Monday. It has not been disclosed what was discussed, but White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: “There are many options at the president’s disposal that are on the table – and I’ll let him speak on those.”

Maduro, considered a dictator by Western leaders, said he is ready “to defend [the country] and lead it to the path of peace”.

He added: “We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression that can only be described as psychological terrorism.”