Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States of attacking a boat carrying Colombian nationals in the Caribbean, an allegation the White House has firmly denied.
Petro made the claim after a series of American air and sea strikes on vessels that Washington says were linked to drug smuggling networks operating near Venezuela. The US military has carried out at least four of such attacks since early September, leaving 21 people dead.
Writing on X, Petro said the latest boat destroyed by American forces ”was Colombian, with Colombian citizens inside.” He described the recent US actions as part of ” war for oil,” arguing that the operations threaten the wider region. ”A new war scenario has opened: the Caribbean,” he wrote. “This aggression targets all of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
The Colombian leader offered no further details about those said to be on board and did not release evidence to support his allegation.
The White House dismissed Petro’s remarks, calling them “baseless and reprehensible.” It urged him to withdraw the statement but said the two countries remain partners on regional security and stability. US officials say the strikes took place in international waters and were aimed at “narco-traffickers.” They have not released the names or nationalities of the dead.
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Petro’s accusation came shortly after the US Senate narrowly voted down a Democratic proposal that would have restricted President Donald Trump’s authority to order such strikes without congressional approval.
The measure, introduced by Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine, failed by 48 votes to 51. Schiff had earlier posted that he supported limiting Trump’s powers, prompting Petro to reply directly with his claim about the bombed vessel.
A memo sent to Congress earlier this month revealed that the administration has classified its campaign against regional cartels as a “non-international armed conflict.” That designation gives Washington wartime powers, including the ability to target suspected fighters even outside traditional battle zones. Trump has already listed several drug cartels in Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela as terrorist organisations, allowing broader military responses beyond US borders.
The recent attacks have drawn criticism across Latin America, with some governments and legal experts warning that the operations could breach international law.
Neither Bogotá nor Washington has confirmed whether Colombian citizens were among the dead. Petro has called on families of the victims to come forward, while US officials have maintained silence on the identities involved.
The dispute has deepened regional unease about US actions in the Caribbean and could place new strain on ties between two allies that have long cooperated on anti-drug and security efforts.