Colombian President Gustavo Petro said Wednesday that the most recent boat struck by the U.S. military in the Caribbean Sea was Colombian and carried Colombian citizens.
A U.S. official familiar with the operation confirmed to News that at least one of the targeted boats was believed to have originated from Colombia. However, the White House firmly rejected Gustavo Petro claim, calling it “baseless” and reaffirming that Colombia remains an “essential strategic partner.”
The allegation threatens to deepen criticism of President Donald Trump’s escalating military campaign in the Caribbean, which has included several deadly strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics. Critics warn the actions could spark a wider regional conflict, as the administration has provided few details about the individuals or groups being targeted.
Gustavo Petro
Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of facilitating drug trafficking operations and has declared that the U.S. is now in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
The latest strike occurred on October 3, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he ordered an attack on a vessel allegedly carrying narcotics in international waters near Venezuela, killing four people. Both Hegseth and Trump posted a video of the explosion online, showing the vessel engulfed in flames, but offered no information on the victims’ identities, cargo, or destination.
“Indications show that the last boat bombed was Colombian with Colombian citizens inside it,” Gustavo Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I hope their families come forward and report it. There is no war against smuggling; there is a war for oil and it must be stopped by the world.”
A White House spokesperson demanded Gustavo Petro retract his statement, saying: “The United States looks forward to President Petro publicly retracting his baseless and reprehensible statement so we can return to a productive dialogue… Colombia remains an essential strategic partner.”
Also Check
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Democrats moved to curb the president’s unilateral military actions. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced a resolution on Wednesday that would block future strikes without congressional authorization. Schiff called the attacks “illegal” and warned they risk “dragging America into another war.”
The measure narrowly failed in the Senate, with a 48–51 vote. Only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman, voted against it, while Republicans Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski crossed party lines to support it.
Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio met privately with Senate Republicans to urge them to oppose the resolution. Afterward, he told reporters, “Drug trafficking organizations are a direct threat to the safety and security of the United States The president, as commander in chief, has an obligation to keep our country safe.”
