NATURAL NEWS

• U.S. forces killed fisherman Alejandro Carranza in a Caribbean strike targeting alleged drug smugglers. Colombia insists Carranza was innocent, while the U.S. has not publicly released definitive proof of drug ties.
• President Donald Trump halted U.S. aid and imposed new tariffs, accusing Colombian President Gustavo Petro of enabling Colombia's cocaine production and calling him an "illegal drug leader."
• The U.S. military campaign has killed at least 27 people in recent strikes, drawing condemnation from regional leaders, including Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who denounced it as colonial aggression.
• Petro's defiance has split Colombian politics—conservatives side with Trump, while allies demand the U.S. address its own drug demand problem. Petro seeks legal action for Carranza's death.
• The clash highlights risks of Trump's militarized drug war strategy, threatening U.S. influence in Latin America as leaders resist heavy-handed tactics and demand accountability.

The escalating feud between the United States and Colombia reached a boiling point this weekend after Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused U.S. forces of killing an innocent fisherman during a military strike targeting alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean. President Donald Trump retaliated by abruptly halting U.S. aid to Colombia and imposing new tariffs, further straining relations between the two nations amid a widening U.S. military campaign in the region.

Murder accusation

The conflict stems from a Sept. 16 incident in which U.S. forces attacked a vessel they claimed was smuggling narcotics. Petro, however, insists the boat belonged to Alejandro Carranza, a "lifelong fisherman" whose craft had suffered engine failure and was drifting with its distress signal activated. "U.S. government officials have committed murder and violated our sovereignty in our territorial waters," Petro declared in a social media post. "Fisherman Alejandro Carranza had no ties to drug traffickers and his daily activity was fishing." He demanded an explanation from Washington. The U.S. has not publicly released evidence confirming the boat's alleged drug ties, relying instead on declassified intelligence summaries and video clips. Legal experts have questioned the legality of such strikes, arguing that targeting civilians not engaged in hostilities violates international law.

Aid cut and tariffs

Trump swiftly fired back, branding Petro an "illegal drug leader" and accusing him of enabling Colombia's record-high cocaine production. The president wrote on Truth Social that "Petro does nothing to stop" the massive production of drugs in Colombia, and that the U.S. will no longer offer payment or subsidies. The U.S. had allocated over $740 million in aid to Colombia in 2023, much of it earmarked for counternarcotics efforts. While previous cuts had already reduced funding, Trump's latest move threatens to sever remaining assistance entirely. He also announced impending tariffs on Colombian imports, escalating economic pressure. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth defended the military campaign, announcing another strike last week on a vessel allegedly linked to Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels. Hegseth claimed the boat was carrying narcotics but provided no verifiable proof.

Growing regional fallout

The U.S. military's Caribbean operations—its largest in decades—have drawn sharp criticism from regional leaders. At least 27 people have been killed in five previous strikes. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denounced the U.S. campaign as an attempt to turn his nation into "an American colony." Trump has openly floated military action against Venezuela, including Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operations, while doubling bounties on Maduro—accusing him of leading a "narcoterrorist" regime without presenting conclusive evidence. As explained by BrightU.AI's Enoch, narcoterrorist is a term that combines two words: "narcotics" and "terrorist." It is often used in political and law enforcement contexts to describe individuals or groups that engage in both drug trafficking and acts of terrorism.

Political divisions in Colombia

Petro's defiance has polarized Colombian politics. Conservative figures like journalist Vicky Dávila sided with Trump, declaring that Petro's government "has favored drug trafficking in every way possible." Conversely, Senator Iván Cepeda, a Petro ally, argued that the U.S. must address its own role in fueling drug demand. Petro has urged Colombia's attorney general to help Carranza's family pursue legal action against the U.S., potentially alongside a Trinidadian family whose relative was also killed in a separate strike.

Broader implications

The clash underscores the risks of Trump's aggressive counternarcotics strategy, which critics say prioritizes militarization over diplomacy and lacks transparency. With Colombia's aid now in jeopardy and tariffs looming, the fallout could extend beyond bilateral tensions—reshaping U.S. influence in Latin America as regional leaders grow increasingly resistant to Washington's heavy-handed tactics. As Petro and Trump trade accusations, the fisherman's death has become a flashpoint in a wider struggle over sovereignty, accountability and the human cost of the drug war. Watch the video below about the U.S. carrying out another strike on a so-called "narco-trafficking boat" in the Caribbean. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: RT.com NewYorkTimes.com BBC.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com