Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2025. 8:27 am CST.
By Zoila Palma: Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday called for a criminal investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump and other American officials following a series of deadly U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean earlier this month.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Petro condemned the attacks, which Washington claimed targeted drug-smuggling vessels, and accused Trump of “criminalizing poverty and migration.”
He argued that the passengers killed were not gang members as alleged but rather impoverished youths from Latin America, AP reports.
The strikes, carried out on September 2, 16, and 19, left at least 17 people dead, according to U.S. and regional reports.
The Trump administration said the vessels had departed from Venezuela and were linked to the Tren de Aragua criminal group, though it has not detailed how those assessments were made.
U.S. officials have maintained the actions were necessary to curb drug trafficking, while acknowledging that the first boat was fired on after it appeared to turn back toward shore.
Petro’s remarks came just hours after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced plans to enact constitutional decrees aimed at safeguarding Venezuela’s sovereignty in case of further U.S. military action.
Maduro has accused Washington of using drug allegations as a pretext to destabilize his government.
Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president who reestablished diplomatic ties with Venezuela in 2022, said the strikes reflected a broader pattern of injustice in the region. “Was it really necessary to bomb unarmed, poor young people in the Caribbean?” he asked.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.
© 2025, BreakingBelizeNews.com. Content is copyrighted and requires written permission for reprinting in online or print media. Theft of content without permission/payment is punishable by law.
The post International News: Colombian President blasts U.S., calls for investigation into strikes in Caribbean appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Wednesday, September 24, 2025. 8:27 am CST. By Zoila Palma: Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday called for a criminal investigation into U.S. President Donald
The post International News: Colombian President blasts U.S., calls for investigation into strikes in Caribbean appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.