After two survivors emerged from a U.S. military strike on a semi-submersible vessel, Colombia is now accusing Donald Trump and his administration of the murder of a lifelong Colombian fisherman during an American attack on a boat in mid-September.
A grim turn
The Trump administration’s bombings of boats allegedly used by drug cartels to transport narcotics toward the United States have taken a grim turn. After two survivors emerged from a U.S. military strike on a semi-submersible vessel, Colombia is now accusing Donald Trump and his administration of the murder of a lifelong Colombian fisherman during an American attack on a boat in mid-September.
A civilian
Tensions are rising between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump after the former U.S. leader threatened to cut aid to Colombia, following Petro’s accusation that the Trump administration was responsible for the murder of a civilian.
Mischaracterized by Washington
According to Colombia’s president, the U.S. military’s destruction of what was believed to be a cartel drug boat in mid-September was mischaracterized by Washington. Colombian authorities claim the targeted vessel actually belonged to Alejandro Carranza, described by President Gustavo Petro in a social media post, as reported by The New York Times, as «a lifelong fisherman whose boat had suffered damage and was left adrift».
No evidence
As many experts have warned since the start of the Trump administration’s so-called «war against drug cartels», which began in early September with the bombing of a first vessel in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, the U.S. government has provided no evidence to support its claims that the passengers aboard those boats were drug traffickers.
Very unpopular leader
President Petro stated bluntly: «U.S. government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters.» Donald Trump responded on Truth Social to Colombia’s accusations by calling President Gustavo Petro «a low-rated and very unpopular leader» and accusing him of being «an illegal drug leader».
An illegal drug leader
In his post, Donald Trump wrote: «President Gustavo Petro, of Colombia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Colombia. It has become the biggest business in Colombia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America.»
U.S. aid
Trump then asserted that, as of the day of his publication: «THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA.» According to The New York Times, Colombia had been set to receive more than $400 million in U.S. aid at the beginning of the year, before relations with the Trump administration deteriorated. Cuts made by DOGE throughout the year ultimately left Colombia with only $100 million in assistance.
Pete Hegseth
One of the United States’ most recent strikes on a «boat carrying drugs» came shortly after the president’s Truth Social post. The Department of Defense’s Pete Hegseth claimed the vessel was linked to Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) and had been transporting narcotics.
The two presidents
The escalation between the two presidents continues, as Donald Trump revokes President Petro’s visa and the Colombian leader responds by recalling his country’s ambassador from the United States.