Tensions Between Colombia and the United States Have Recently Increased Following Criticism From the Colombian Government Over U.S. Military Mobilization and Action Off the Venezuelan Coast. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons / Coronades03
Guacamaya, September 23, 2025. Colombian President Gustavo Petro suggested that citizens from his country may have been aboard the speedboat attacked by the United States near the coast of the Dominican Republic. He warned that, if the hypothesis is confirmed, officials from both countries would be responsible for the murder of Colombian nationals.
The South American leader called for the investigation to move forward and urged the mothers of young people who went missing during that period to report their cases to the relevant authorities. Petro also questioned the legality of the attack, stating that no regulation permits launching missiles at boats carrying unarmed youths at sea, regardless of their activity.
Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump released a new video showing his military forces attacking a speedboat allegedly linked to drug trafficking. While no details were provided about the vessel’s origin or the alleged quantity of narcotics being transported, the death of the three individuals on board was confirmed.
On Sunday, the Dominican Republic’s National Drug Control Directorate reported the seizure of 377 packages of drugs in its maritime territory, allegedly originating from a boat destroyed approximately 80 nautical miles south of Isla Beata. A source involved in the investigation told AFP that the vessel likely came from Venezuela and was carrying a ton of drugs.
It remains unclear whether the seizure by Dominican authorities is connected to the strike recently announced by Trump or to a previous attack. Likewise, the U.S. government has not specified whether the video published on Friday depicts a fourth strike on Caribbean vessels or one of the previously reported incidents.
The Colombian government has already voiced its criticism of the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean and the execution of these operations, describing the maneuver as “excessive” and denouncing potential human rights violations. Petro’s statements come amid escalating tensions between Colombia and the United States, fueled by the president’s support for Venezuela’s position.
