The White House sharply rejected Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s claim that a recent U.S. military strike near Venezuela targeted a Colombian vessel, calling the accusation “baseless and reprehensible.”
A White House official urged Petro to retract his statement and reaffirmed that Colombia remains a vital U.S. ally despite policy disagreements.
Petro alleged on X that the “last boat bombed was Colombian with Colombian citizens inside,” but provided no evidence.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Wednesday that the latest alleged drug vessel the United States struck was actually a Colombian boat with citizens from the South American country aboard. https://t.co/NkXcMi8tD3
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 9, 2025
The U.S. Department of Defense said the strike, conducted in international waters off Venezuela, destroyed a “narco-trafficking vessel,” killing four individuals. It was the fourth such U.S. strike in the region since early September, all reportedly targeting drug cartel operations.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that those aboard were drug traffickers, not civilians.
The operation comes amid heightened tensions with Venezuela, whose government accuses Washington of using anti-narcotics missions as cover for regime change.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
