Colombia Blasts US for ‘Murder’ Following Boat Strike: What You Need to Know

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is expressing anger over a recent U.S. military strike that resulted in the death of a Colombian fisherman. He described the incident as a violation of Colombia’s sovereignty.

In a post on social media, Petro claimed that a Colombian fishing boat was adrift with a distress signal due to engine trouble when it was hit. “We await explanations from the U.S. government,” he said, emphasizing the tragedy of the situation.

This incident follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that a U.S. strike took out a “drug-carrying submarine” in the area, resulting in two casualties. Trump asserted that U.S. intelligence confirmed the vessel was loaded with fentanyl and other illegal drugs. This strike marks the sixth recent operation against vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea, and notably, it’s the first time survivors have been reported.

Petro highlighted that Alejandro Carranza, the fisherman who died, was merely fishing and had no links to drug trafficking. He criticized the U.S. for what he termed a murder that disregards Colombia’s territorial rights.

Trump defended the strikes as necessary for combating the flow of drugs from Latin America into the United States, even though details about those involved or the nature of the vessels targeted were not disclosed. Experts from the UN have called these U.S. strikes “extrajudicial executions,” raising serious ethical questions.

Statistics reveal that previous strikes have led to at least 27 deaths in the waters off Venezuela, underscoring the ongoing violence in this region. While Trump pointed out that the submarines used for drug trafficking are often built for stealth and can be discarded after delivering their cargo, these vessels have become increasing targets for U.S. enforcement efforts.

According to recent data, narco-subs, as they are called, have been a growing trend among drug traffickers because of their ability to evade detection. Various coastal nations, including the U.S., have successfully intercepted some of these crafts, but the threat remains.

As this situation continues to evolve, reactions on social media reflect a mix of outrage and concern for the complex interplay of drug trafficking, sovereignty, and the ethics of military intervention.

For more information, you can read the details from sources like CBS News or BBC News.

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