Colombia Halts Intelligence Sharing with U.S. Over Maritime Strikes

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the nation's security forces to cease sharing intelligence with the United States until the U.S. halts its military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean. In a statement on X, Petro instructed the military to immediately end "communications and other agreements with U.S. security agencies" until these attacks cease. He emphasized that "the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people."

Since August, U.S. military operations have resulted in at least 75 fatalities in international waters, according to figures from the Trump administration. These strikes, initially concentrated in the southern Caribbean near Venezuela, have recently expanded to the eastern Pacific, targeting boats off Mexico.

Petro has called for an investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump for potential war crimes related to these operations, which have affected citizens from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The U.S. administration has criticized Petro for being lenient on drug traffickers and, in October, imposed financial sanctions on him and his family, alleging involvement in the global drug trade. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that Petro "has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity."

These developments occur amid a significant increase in U.S. naval presence in the southern Caribbean, including the deployment of eight warships, a submarine, fighter jets, and marines. Venezuela's government has described this buildup as a threat to its sovereignty, suggesting that the U.S. military is preparing for potential strikes against President Nicolás Maduro's administration.