Colombian President Gustavo Petro has suspended intelligence sharing with the United States over its recent airstrikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. The decision, announced on X, follows the UK’s similar move and is in response to the US actions, which Petro has condemned as human rights violations. The US administration, under President Donald Trump, claims the strikes target drug smuggling vessels allegedly linked to Venezuela and Colombia. However, Petro and critics argue the operation lacks verifiable evidence and may be a cover for regime change efforts in Venezuela. The US has imposed sanctions on Petro, his family, and several cabinet members, accusing them of ties to drug cartels, which Petro denies.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also condemned the US campaign this week, saying Washington should focus instead on Belgium, which was recently described by one of its own judges as an emerging “narco-state.” Since early September, US forces have conducted airstrikes on 20 small vessels, resulting in at least 76 deaths, according to Pentagon figures. The Trump administration has provided no verifiable evidence linking the targets to drug cartels. Critics claim the operation could be a cover for regime change efforts in Venezuela.