New York: Colombian President Gustavo Petro has strongly condemned recent U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, which he claims resulted in the deaths of 17 people between September 2 and 20, 2025. According to Petro, the victims were poor Latin American youths and not members of criminal organizations, challenging the U.S. narrative that the strikes targeted drug-trafficking vessels linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Petro described the military actions as unjustified and has called for a United Nations-led criminal investigation into the conduct of U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump. He emphasized that military strikes are not an effective method to combat drug trafficking and disproportionately harm vulnerable populations.

The Colombian president advocated for intelligence-driven police investigations as a more appropriate way to dismantle drug networks. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has maintained that the strikes were based on intelligence indicating the vessels were transporting narcotics.

The incident has heightened tensions between Colombia and the United States and has raised concerns about the legality and ethics of military actions in international waters. Regional security and international relations could be impacted as calls for accountability grow louder.