Colombia's Petro calls US drug-boat strikes an 'act of tyranny' in BBC interview
President Gustavo Petro says U.S. airstrikes in the Caribbean warrant criminal accountability if Colombians were killed; White House defends actions amid legal and rights concerns
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro condemned U.S. airstrikes on boats suspected of trafficking drugs in the Caribbean as an act of tyranny, telling the BBC that criminal proceedings should follow if investigations confirm Colombians were killed. The interview was conducted in New York during the annual United Nations gathering.
The strikes began earlier this month and, according to U.S. officials, have killed at least 17 people. They targeted vessels in international waters and were framed by Washington as necessary to cut fentanyl and other illegal drugs from reaching the United States. Administration officials say the operations have focused largely on boats tied to networks with links to Venezuela, though they have offered limited details about the targets or the identities of those killed.
Petro pressed for an assessment of proportionality, saying using missiles would violate the principle if a boat could be stopped and the crew arrested instead. He argued that the strikes amount to murder if civilians or Colombians are among the dead.
The remarks come as Democratic lawmakers in Washington demanded more information on the strikes' legality and compliance with international law. United Nations experts have described the actions as extrajudicial executions.
The White House defended the strikes, saying Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into the United States and to bring those responsible to justice.
Petro also criticized U.S. policy toward Latin America, saying Trump had insulted him during a campaign and that regional nations would not bow to what he described as the United States' leadership.
Since taking office in January, Trump has mounted a tougher stance on Latin America, including a broader deportation sweep and the designation of several criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations.
Analysts note the strikes raise questions about sovereignty, the use of force on the high seas, and adherence to human rights standards, even as the administration seeks to disrupt drug networks.