Colombia has expressed grave concerns regarding recent strikes conducted by the United States on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific. Since the beginning of September, the US military has carried out at least nine such attacks on these vessels. Unfortunately, these actions have led to the deaths of 37 people. The US claims these operations are part of a broader counternarcotics initiative aimed at curbing drug trafficking, particularly cocaine, which Colombia primarily produces.
The events have largely taken place close to Venezuelan waters, escalating tensions in an already fractious region. US forces have aggressively hunted down Colombian ships in the Pacific. This escalation has brought serious and deserved criticism to the legality and morality of these operations. Articulating strong opposition to aerial attacks, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has condemned the strikes, claiming they violate international law.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made a point of stressing the existence of international laws pertaining to allegations of illegal drug and gun transport across international waters. She reiterated worries previously voiced by a number of Latin American heads of state.
To that end, the US has argued that military operations are necessary to address the drug epidemic affecting the US on a domestic front. This crisis has resulted in nearly 100,000 overdose deaths annually, primarily from fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Though Colombia manufactures almost no fentanyl, it is still the globe’s largest exporter of cocaine. According to US Government statements, cocaine is principally smuggled on Pacific maritime routes. In turn, they have mounted a militarization that includes guided missile destroyers, F-35 fighter aircraft, a nuclear submarine, and around 6,500 US troops deployed to the Caribbean.
Even with the unprecedented aid—over $740 million—that the US has provided to Colombia in 2023, these police strikes have caused a political uproar. President Petro condemned the attacks as murder. He bravely and vigorously argued that they are contrary to well settled standards of international law, no matter where they occur, the Caribbean or the Pacific.
“It is murder. Whether in the Caribbean or Pacific, the US government strategy breaks the norms of international law.” – Gustavo Petro
Former President Donald Trump has suggested extending military action beyond that, such as to hit land targets. This fiery move indicates that he’s decided to take a more hawkish stance against the drug trade. “We will hit them very hard when they come in by land,” Trump stated, emphasizing his willingness to escalate operations against smugglers.
Trump has even gone so far as to denounce Petro as “a thug” and “an illegal drug trafficker.” This sharply worded rebuke has further escalated already strained diplomatic relations between the US and Colombia.
As this situation continues to develop, worth asking is whether military interventions such as these are effective or even legal within the applicable defined parameters of international waters. Critics are cautioning that these moves threaten to upset the fragile regional balance. They fear that this could add to the strains between countries already challenged by the negative effects of drug trafficking.