Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States of bombing a Colombian vessel carrying Colombian citizens in the Caribbean, a claim the White House has dismissed as “baseless and reprehensible.”
The accusation comes after the US military carried out at least four strikes in the Caribbean in recent weeks, killing 21 people. Washington insists the operations targeted drug-trafficking vessels in international waters but has provided no evidence or details about those on board.
In a post on X, Petro alleged that “the last boat bombed was Colombian with Colombian citizens inside it,” adding that “a new war scenario has opened up: the Caribbean.” He further claimed that the ongoing attacks were not part of a war against smuggling but “a war for oil” targeting Latin America and the Caribbean.
The White House swiftly rejected Petro’s statement, urging him to retract it publicly. “While the two nations have policy differences, the US remains committed to close cooperation on regional security and stability,” the statement read.
The controversy follows a US Senate vote on Wednesday rejecting a motion that would have barred President Donald Trump from authorising military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean without congressional approval. The measure, proposed by Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Tim Kaine, failed narrowly in a 48–51 vote.
The US has classified the operations as part of a “non-international armed conflict,” allowing it to exercise wartime powers against designated “terrorist” cartels in countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
However, the strikes have drawn condemnation across Latin America, with critics warning that they may violate international law and risk escalating tensions in the region.
