In a recent BBC interview, Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned U.S. airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea, labeling them an “act of tyranny.” He called for criminal investigations into U.S. officials should evidence emerge that Colombians were killed in the strikes, which have reportedly resulted in 17 fatalities since their inception this month. Petro questioned the necessity of using missiles over apprehending suspects, stating, “Why launch a missile if you could simply stop the boat and arrest the crew?” He emphasized that there should be “zero deaths” in counter-narcotics operations and critiqued the disproportionate use of force.

The airstrikes, primarily targeting vessels linked to Venezuela, have drawn scrutiny from legal experts and U.S. lawmakers, who allege they may violate international human rights laws. United Nations experts have classified the strikes as extrajudicial executions. The Trump administration defends the actions as essential for combating the influx of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S.

At the U.N. meeting in New York, Petro accused Trump of humiliating Latin American nations, stating they would not “bow down.” He further claimed that it is Trump’s policies that risk isolating the U.S. internationally.



Read full article at www.bbc.com