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 stated, The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure, when it was struck. He added that they await explanations from the US government.
This incident follows a claim from former President Donald Trump stating that the US had targeted a drug-carrying submarine, resulting in two fatalities.
Trump further alleged that US intelligence confirmed the vessel was laden with Fentanyl and other illegal narcotics, although he did not provide evidence regarding the vessel's actual nature or its occupants.
The strike marks at least the sixth US operation targeting vessels in the Caribbean in recent weeks, notably being the first with reported survivors.
The incident has drawn ire from Petro, who reiterated that Alejandro Carranza, the deceased fisherman, was not involved in drug trafficking and was merely pursuing his profession.
Moreover, human rights observers have condemned the US strikes, describing them as extrajudicial executions, thereby intensifying scrutiny over US military interventions in the region.
In response to the public outcry, Trump defended the actions as necessary to curb drug smuggling, while also sparking further diplomatic friction with Venezuelan authorities, who have accused him of imperialist ambitions.
This situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, further complicated by the humanitarian implications of military engagements in civilian maritime tragedies.
