US airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea are an act of tyranny, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro told the BBC in an interview where he also called for criminal proceedings against US officials if investigations find Colombians were killed in the attacks.
President Donald Trump has cast the strikes, which have reportedly killed 17 since they began this month, as needed to stop the flow of fentanyl and other illegal narcotics into the US.
Legal experts and lawmakers, though, have questioned if they violate international human rights laws.
Why launch a missile if you could simply stop the boat and arrest the crew? said Petro. That's what one would call murder.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Petro stated there should be zero deaths in the efforts to interdict speedboats allegedly involved in drug smuggling. He highlighted a history of successful maritime operations where no lives were lost.
He remarked on the unnecessary use of lethal force, asserting that the principle of proportionality must be observed, stating, if you use anything more than a pistol, you're violating that principle.
The strikes have predominantly targeted areas around Venezuela, according to the Trump administration, but the details surrounding the targets and fatalities remain murky. Reports claiming members of the Tren de Aragua gang were aboard the first struck vessel are disputed.
Democratic lawmakers have pressed the White House for clarity regarding the legality of these strikes, described by UN experts as extrajudicial executions.
In response to Petro's allegations, the Trump administration affirmed its commitment to utilize all necessary resources to combat drug trafficking.
Additionally, during the interview held amid the annual UN gathering in New York, Petro accused the Trump administration of humiliating South American nations, declaring they would not bow down to the king.
Relations between Petro and Trump have been particularly tense, with past derogatory remarks exchanged highlighting the strain between the two leaders, especially regarding Trump's broader policies affecting Latin America.
