Colombian President Gustavo Petro has taken the dramatic step of suspending all intelligence sharing between his nation's security forces and the United States. The decision comes as a direct response to ongoing U.S. military strikes against suspected drug traffickers operating in Caribbean waters.
Intelligence Sharing Suspended
In a message posted on social media platform X on Tuesday, President Petro declared that Colombia's military must immediately cease "communications and other agreements with U.S. security agencies" until the United States stops its attacks on speedboats suspected of transporting narcotics. The Colombian leader emphasized that "the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people."
The immediate consequences of this decision remain unclear, particularly regarding what specific intelligence information Colombia will withhold from its American counterparts. The White House has not yet issued an official response to Petro's announcement.
Mounting Casualties and International Tensions
According to figures provided by the Trump administration, at least 75 people have been killed by U.S. military strikes in international waters since August. These operations initially targeted vessels in the southern Caribbean near Venezuela's coastline but have recently shifted to the eastern Pacific, where American forces have focused on boats off Mexico's coast.
President Petro has taken his criticism further by calling for U.S. President Donald Trump to be investigated for war crimes related to these strikes, which have affected citizens from multiple nations including Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Colombian president recently met with the family of a Colombian fisherman allegedly killed in one such operation. "He may have been carrying fish, or he may have been carrying cocaine, but he had not been sentenced to death," Petro stated during a summit between Latin American and European Union leaders hosted by Colombia. "There was no need to murder him."
Deteriorating Relations and Military Buildup
The intelligence sharing suspension marks a significant deterioration in relations between two nations that were once close partners in combating drug trafficking. The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Petro of being soft on traffickers, particularly criticizing his decision to spare Colombian rebel leaders involved in the drug trade from extradition to the United States.
In October, the U.S. administration escalated tensions by placing financial sanctions on Petro and members of his family over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed Petro "has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity."
The diplomatic crisis coincides with a substantial U.S. military buildup in the southern Caribbean, including eight warships, a submarine, fighter jets, and marines deployed to the region. The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier is also expected to arrive in Caribbean waters this month.
Venezuela's government has characterized this naval presence as a direct threat to its sovereignty, with officials suggesting the U.S. military is preparing to launch strikes against the government of Nicolas Maduro. While the Trump administration maintains the deployment aims to curb drug traffickers, President Trump has hinted at potential strikes within Venezuela, whose leader has been described by Washington officials as heading a drug cartel.
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López announced Tuesday that military personnel, civilian militia members, police officers, and ruling-party organizers would be mobilized for training exercises to protect the country's airspace, though no immediate training activities were visible in the capital city of Caracas.
