Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly accused the United States of committing “murder” and violating Colombian sovereignty after a U.S. strike on September 16 reportedly killed a Colombian fisherman in the country’s territorial waters.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, Petro said, “U.S. government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters.” He identified the victim as Alejandro Carranza, clarifying that Carranza had no ties to the drug trade.
Initial U.S. claims suggested the targeted vessel was linked to narcotics trafficking. However, Colombian media investigations revealed that the boat in question was a small, manually operated fishing vessel. President Petro further stated that Carranza’s boat had experienced engine failure and was adrift, having sent out a clear distress signal before being fired upon.
The Colombian government is now demanding a formal explanation from the United States. The incident has sparked fresh diplomatic tensions, raising serious concerns about the use of force and intelligence accuracy in anti-narcotics operations carried out in foreign territorial waters.
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