WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The president of Colombia accused the U.S. of murdering a fisherman in an attack on a boat in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump said in response he would cut assistance and impose new tariffs on the country.
The U.S. has carried out a series of strikes against what it said were suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean.
In an Oct. 18 social media post, President Gustavo Petro of Colombia said in a mid-September strike U.S. government officials “committed (a) murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters.”
‘No ties to drug trade’
“Fisherman Alejandro Carranza had no ties to the drug trade and his daily activity was fishing,” Petro said, according to an English translation of the post. The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure. We await explanations from the US government.”
In response, Trump said in an Oct. 19 social media post, Petro “is an illegal drug leader” and had “a fresh mouth toward America.”
Petro and Colombian officials strongly disputed the claim that he is a drug dealer.
Mary Ellen O’Connell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School who specializes in international law and conflict resolution, told OSV News, “From the first reports of the United States Navy destroying small boats in the Caribbean, I have had the gravest of concerns.”
U.S. ‘does not have sufficient facts’
“The use of military force in such circumstances simply cannot be justified under international human rights law or the law of armed conflict,” she said. “Among the many reasons why the attacks are unlawful, the U.S. does not have sufficient facts about who is on the boats. Reports that a fisherman from Colombia has been killed underscores that major issue.”
As his country’s president, O’Connell said, Petro “has a duty to protect his citizens by protesting their unlawful killing.”
“Instead of threatening to punish him for doing his duty, President Trump should end this lawless policy,” she said. “The U.S. needs the cooperation of all countries in the region to stem the scourge of drug trafficking. Cooperation is built on trust that is best demonstrated by compliance with the law that binds all — international law.”
Citing the recent resignation of Adm. Alvin Holsey, as head of the U.S. Southern Command, the military commander overseeing the strikes, O’Connell said Trump “is ordering U.S. troops to carry out criminal acts.”
‘Committed to obeying the law’
“The resignation of the SouthCom commander was the noble act of someone who is committed to obeying the law,” she said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the U.S. operations, which he said during an Oct. 17 Cabinet meeting are “against narco-terrorists. That’s what these are. These are terrorists. Let’s be clear.”
The incident is not the first back-and-forth Trump and Petro have had since the U.S. president returned to the White House. The U.S. previously revoked Petro’s visa when he suggested U.S. soldiers should disobey Trump’s orders in regard to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.
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