Colombian President Accuses US of Killing Fisherman in Sovereignty Dispute

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States of violating Colombia's sovereignty and committing murder by striking a Colombian fishing vessel in the Caribbean Sea, resulting in the death of fisherman Alejandro Carranza. Petro emphasized that Carranza had no ties to drug trafficking and that his boat was adrift with a distress signal due to engine failure at the time of the strike. The incident occurred amid a broader U.S. military campaign led by President Donald Trump targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean, which has involved multiple strikes killing at least 27 people. Petro has demanded explanations from the U.S. government, condemning the attacks as unjustified and harmful to innocent civilians, with local fishermen fearful of going to sea. The U.S. administration has justified the strikes as efforts to stem the flow of narcotics like fentanyl into the United States, though critics and UN-appointed human rights experts have raised concerns about extrajudicial executions and damage to regional sovereignty. The episode has heightened tensions between Colombia and the U.S., spotlighting complex issues around drug enforcement and respect for territorial waters.