The White House refuted allegations made by Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding a recent U.S. military strike in the Caribbean that supposedly downed a boat carrying Colombian citizens.
Petro stated on Wednesday that a vessel filled with Colombians was targeted during an operation aimed at intercepting boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking, a claim made by the Trump administration.
He also urged families to come forward to share their experiences regarding the incident. In response, the White House labeled Petro’s remarks as “baseless and reprehensible,” expressing hope that he would retract them publicly.
A White House official conveyed, on the condition of anonymity, that they look forward to Petro taking back his unfounded statements and resuming constructive dialogue for the benefit of both nations’ citizens.
The official reaffirmed Colombia’s status as a crucial strategic partner despite policy disagreements with Petro’s administration, highlighting a commitment to address shared priorities like regional security and improving the well-being of both Americans and Colombians.
Inquiries directed at the Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command regarding Petro’s comments were referred back to the White House.
This exchange follows recent calls from world leaders for a criminal probe into the military actions carried out by the Trump administration in the Caribbean.
The U.S. military has reportedly conducted four strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the area over the past few weeks, resulting in 21 fatalities, according to U.S. officials. The latest attack occurred last week in international waters off Venezuela, leading to the explosion of a ship believed to be smuggling drugs, which claimed four lives, as per Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
President Trump has implicated Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in the illegal drug trade to the U.S., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to Maduro’s regime as “illegitimate.”
Last week, Trump informed Congress that the U.S. is essentially at war with drug cartels, which he categorized as terrorist entities. This classification legally supports military actions against ships in the Caribbean that began in early September.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have criticized Trump’s military actions, advocating for a bill proposed by Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine aimed at halting attacks on suspected vessels. However, a vote on the matter failed with a result of 48-51.
