In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Colombia and the United States, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has publicly accused the US government of violating Colombia's sovereignty and being responsible for the death of a local fisherman. This accusation follows a statement made by former US President Donald Trump, who claimed that American forces executed a strike as part of their ongoing military campaign against narcoterrorists.
President Petro identified the deceased fisherman as Alejandro Carranza, emphasizing that Carranza had no connections to the drug trade. According to Petro, the fisherman was struck by US forces while he was fishing in the Caribbean. Family members of Carranza have provided video testimony, asserting that he was merely on his boat, which was adrift and displaying a distress signal due to engine failure when the tragic incident occurred. “We await explanations from the US government,” Petro remarked in his statement on X.
Colombia's serious allegations surfaced shortly after Trump confirmed a US military strike in the Caribbean, which he described as targeting a drug-carrying submarine. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, "It was my great honor to destroy a very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE that was navigating towards the United States." He claimed that US intelligence had confirmed the vessel was loaded with a significant amount of Fentanyl and other illegal drugs, reiterating the US's commitment to combating drug trafficking.
The strike reportedly resulted in two fatalities among the four individuals aboard the vessel, while two survivors were rescued by US military helicopters. These survivors, who are now in custody, mark the first individuals to survive such a US attack. In a follow-up statement on Saturday, Trump announced that the two survivors would be repatriated to their respective home countries, Ecuador and Colombia.
President Petro confirmed the return of the Colombian national, stating that he would face prosecution in accordance with Colombian laws. "We have received the Colombian detained on the narco submarine; we are happy he is alive, and he will be processed according to the law," Petro wrote on X.
The recent military action represents the sixth US attack on narco vessels off the coast of Venezuela, raising eyebrows among international experts. The Trump administration has reported that these operations have resulted in the deaths of 27 individuals, prompting concerns regarding the legality of such extrajudicial killings. The implications of these military interventions continue to spark debate about the balance between national security and human rights.
As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely, awaiting further developments in this volatile situation between Colombia and the United States.
