Colombian President Accuses US of 'Murder' Over Boat Strike Incident

Mon Oct 20 2025 15:33:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Gustavo Petro condemns US military actions following the killing of a Colombian fisherman, highlighting ongoing tensions over sovereignty and drug enforcement in the Caribbean.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States of committing 'murder' after a US military strike targeted a fishing boat within Colombian waters, resulting in the death of a fisherman. This incident, part of a series of strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels, has intensified diplomatic tensions between Colombia and the US. Petro is demanding explanations from the US government as the situation unfolds, raising concerns over sovereignty and human rights violations.

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 accused the US of violating his country's sovereignty and killing a Colombian fisherman.

He mentioned that The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure, when it was struck. He added, We await explanations from the US government. This incident comes on the heels of a US strike on a drug-carrying submarine claimed by President Trump, resulting in the deaths of two people.

In a later social media update, Trump stated that US intelligence confirmed the vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl and other illegal narcotics. This attack marks at least the sixth US strike on ships in the Caribbean Sea in recent weeks and saw survivors for the first time.

Writing about an earlier incident in September, Petro reiterated, US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters, highlighting that Alejandro Carranza, the fisherman killed, had no ties to the drug trade and was simply fishing.

Trump defended these strikes as essential to curb drug trafficking into the US, though no comprehensive evidence has been provided regarding the vessels' identities.

Human rights experts have described the strikes as extrajudicial executions, putting further pressure on the US to clarify its military actions in the region.

Prior to the latest incident, reports indicated at least 27 people had been killed in previous strikes off the Venezuelan coast.

Earlier, Trump indicated that the targeted submarine was specifically built for transporting drugs and asserted no US military personnel were harmed during these operations. Contrarily, he has faced backlash regarding alleged violations of sovereignty and human rights in pursuing drug traffickers.

The Colombian government remains under pressure to respond firmly against both the US actions and the implications for national sovereignty, prompting a potential reevaluation of Colombia's relationship with the US in the context of their narcotics policy and military interventions.