Colombian President Gustavo Petro Urrego has urged criminal proceedings against President Donald Trump over fatal US military strikes on boats in Caribbean waters.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly on September 23, Petro called for investigations into Trump and other US officials involved in this month's deadly attacks on vessels Washington claims were transporting narcotics. The strikes, which occurred on September 2, September 16, and September 20, resulted in at least 17 deaths according to US officials. In a separate interview with The Washington Post, Petro described the boat strikes as "murder" and claimed they were conducted "only for television".

Petro argued the boat passengers were not Venezuelan gang members as claimed by the Trump administration, but rather "poor young people from Latin America" seeking to escape poverty. The Colombian leader disputed US assertions that victims were affiliated with Venezuela's Tren de Aragua criminal organisation.

The confrontation represents a significant escalation in tensions between Bogotá and Washington. Colombia's president previously labelled the US decision to decertify his nation's anti-drug efforts as "rudeness", whilst the US delegation reportedly walked out during Petro's UN address criticising American drug policy.

The Pentagon has deployed eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean in what represents the largest US military presence in the region for years. The operation aims to intercept Venezuelan drug shipments, though critics question the targeting methods and legal basis for strikes in international waters.

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has responded by mobilising civilian militias and preparing constitutional decrees to defend national sovereignty against perceived US aggression. The Venezuelan leader accused Washington of using anti-narcotics operations as a pretext for regime change efforts.

The White House has repeatedly accused Maduro of being one of the world’s largest drug traffickers, being the head of the "Cartel de los Soles", and alleging collaboration with Mexican cartels to supply the United States with cocaine laced with fentanyl. Last month, Washington doubled to $50mn a bounty for information leading to his arrest.

Colombian legal experts remain divided on the feasibility of pursuing criminal charges. Felipe Alzate noted that UN maritime law "would allow Colombia to assume investigation if the vessel was registered or originated from the country", though the nationality of the victims would be crucial. However, criminal lawyers warned such action would create "a much greater diplomatic crisis".

Major Colombian outlets, including El Tiempo and Semana, extensively covered Petro's UN address, with commentary focusing on whether Colombia could legally investigate US officials and the diplomatic ramifications. The president previously called Washington's decertification a "profound rudeness" after decades of anti-drug cooperation.

The dispute threatens to further strain US-Colombia relations under Petro's leftist government, which restored diplomatic ties with Venezuela after assuming office in 2022. Washington has yet to provide detailed explanations of how military commanders assessed vessel cargo or determined passenger affiliations before authorising the attacks.