Colombia’s government has stated that the fishermen recently killed in U.S. strikes near Venezuelan waters were not involved in drug trafficking. This contradicts claims from Washington that the expanded operations in the Caribbean are targeting “narco-terrorism.” These tensions are pushing relations with Colombia, a key non-NATO ally, into a more complicated phase.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who aligns politically with Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, has a strained relationship with President Trump and is likely to contest U.S. actions. The U.S. has released minimal evidence linking the ships involved in the attacks to drug operations, and intelligence officials have not clarified the level of certainty regarding the assessments that prompted the attacks.
Army Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed the intelligence was irrefutable. He stated, “Our intelligence services have confirmed without a doubt that this ship was engaged in drug trafficking and that the people on board were narco-terrorists operating on known trafficking routes,” following an attack on October 3.
Over the weekend, U.S. Southern Command targeted a vessel connected to the National Liberation Army (ELN), named a terrorist organization by the U.S. Hegseth mentioned that three individuals were killed in that strike. He insisted that the ship was engaged in illegal drug smuggling and referenced it transporting significant amounts of drugs, identifying the three individuals on board as narco-terrorists during the operation conducted in international waters.
However, President Petro maintained that the boat belonged to a Colombian fisherman. He expressed sympathy for the family of Alejandro Carranza, emphasizing that the vessel was owned by a struggling family dependent on the sea for their livelihood, stating, “What do you say to the family of Alejandro Carranza? He was a humble man,” in a post on X.
In retaliation, Trump labeled Petro an “illegal drug trafficker,” announced the cessation of all anti-drug assistance to Colombia, and hinted at reimposing significant tariffs. He suggested that U.S. strikes could extend into Colombian territory, declaring, “Mr. Petro, who is a low-rated and very unpopular leader…had better shut down these murder scenes immediately, or the United States will take action on Mr. Petro’s behalf, but that won’t work.”
Sean Parnell, Pentagon Press Secretary, addressed Petro’s assertions, stating that every action by the Department of Defense was “deliberate, lawful, and precise.” He reiterated that the individuals killed were part of a transnational criminal organization involved in illegal goods trafficking on the high seas.
Despite government officials releasing videos of the attacks, they have not produced any solid evidence regarding the type or quantity of drugs supposedly on the vessels or provided the identities of those killed.
White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly informed Fox News Digital that each vessel targeted had been assessed by U.S. intelligence as linked to a designated terrorist organization that was participating in drug trafficking at the time, which risked harming Americans.
A White House official referenced President Obama as being “much more aggressive” in authorizing attacks on militants in the Middle East compared to current actions. Trump affirmed that the airstrikes had prevented drugs capable of killing between 25,000 to 50,000 people from entering American waters.
Defense analysts noted that it will ultimately be Congress’s responsibility to seek further information regarding the airstrike, which resulted in more than 30 fatalities. Rep. Adam Smith, ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called for a discussion within the committee about the strike.
He criticized Trump’s administration for not responding to crucial inquiries about the legality of the military actions taken against vessels in the Caribbean, emphasizing the lack of transparency and evidence backing the President’s assertions that these actions were necessary and justified.
