Colombia’s President Demands Criminal Probe Against Trump for Caribbean Strikes

In a fiery speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2025, Colombian President Gustavo Petro demanded a criminal investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump and other American officials for their roles in a series of deadly U.S. military strikes on boats in the Caribbean. The strikes, which the White House claims targeted drug traffickers, have sparked outrage in Latin America, with Petro accusing the U.S. of criminalizing poverty and migration.

Petro’s remarks came in response to three U.S. military operations in the Caribbean, the first occurring on September 2, 2025, which killed 11 people. Subsequent attacks on September 16 and September 20 claimed three lives each. The Trump administration has defended the strikes as critical to halting the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, alleging that the targeted boats were carrying narcotics and were linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang. However, Petro fiercely disputed these claims, asserting that the passengers were not drug traffickers but impoverished Latin American youths with no other means of survival.

“Criminal proceedings must be initiated against those responsible, even if it includes the highest-ranking official who issued the order: President Trump,” Petro declared. He argued that the strikes were not only unjustified but also a violation of international law, accusing the U.S. of using excessive force against vulnerable populations. “These were not gang members; they were poor young people, unarmed, bombed in the open sea,” he said, directly challenging Trump’s earlier U.N. address where the U.S. president defended the operations.

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The Colombian leader’s remarks were echoed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who accused the Trump administration of using the drug trafficking narrative as a pretext for a broader military agenda aimed at destabilizing his government. Maduro announced that Venezuela is drafting constitutional decrees to protect its sovereignty in response to what he described as “U.S. aggression.” The escalating tensions have raised fears of a broader diplomatic crisis in the region.

Details surrounding the strikes remain scarce. U.S. officials have stated that the first boat was fired upon multiple times after altering its course and appearing to head back to shore. However, the Trump administration has yet to provide concrete evidence of the boats’ cargo or the alleged gang affiliations of the passengers, fueling skepticism from Latin American leaders. Petro pointedly called out the lack of transparency, stating, “They claim these were drug boats, but where is the proof? This is a lie told to the world.”

Petro’s call for accountability has drawn attention to the broader implications of U.S. military actions in the region. As Colombia’s first leftist president, he has worked to mend ties with Venezuela since taking office in 2022, a move that has positioned Colombia as a key player in regional diplomacy. His outspoken criticism of the U.S. strikes underscores a growing divide between Washington and some Latin American governments over issues of sovereignty, poverty, and the global drug trade.

The controversy has also sparked debate about the human cost of the U.S.’s war on drugs. Petro argued that the strikes reflect a broader pattern of criminalizing marginalized communities, particularly impoverished youth who are often coerced into low-level roles in the drug trade due to economic desperation. “Killing these young people does not stop drug trafficking; it only deepens the cycle of poverty and violence,” he said.

As the international community awaits further details, Petro’s demand for a criminal investigation has put the Trump administration on the defensive. With Maduro’s government signaling a strong response and regional tensions rising, the Caribbean strikes could mark a turning point in U.S.-Latin America relations.

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