Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the US of committing murder following a strike carried out on a boat in Colombian territorial waters in September.
In a social media post, Petro stated that the US had violated Colombia's sovereignty and killed a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, who was fishing at the time of the attack. The president expressed outrage that the boat, which had activated its distress signal due to engine failure, was targeted.
In a recent update, Petro elaborated: We await explanations from the US government. His comments come after former President Donald Trump announced strikes against vessels, claiming they were involved in drug trafficking.
According to US intelligence, the targeted submarine was believed to be carrying illegal narcotics, including fentanyl. Trump's defense of the strikes has been met with skepticism, particularly from human rights experts who label these actions as extrajudicial executions. This incident marks at least six US strikes on vessels in the Caribbean in recent weeks, raising concerns over the escalation of militarized drug enforcement operations.
Petro's administration has argued that Fisherman Carranza had no ties to drug trafficking; rather, he was simply engaged in fishing activities. The US is yet to provide substantial evidence regarding the affiliations of the vessels involved in these operations.
The ongoing military actions have incited broader regional tensions, with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accusing the US of imperialistic motives. The debate around sovereignty and the legality of such strikes continues to unfold as more details emerge.
