• Colombia's President Petro claims US military strike may have killed Colombian citizens.
• The White House demands a public retraction from Petro regarding his accusations.
• The US authorities confirm military actions targeting drug trafficking vessels.
• Recent strikes in the Caribbean have raised diplomatic tensions between the US and Colombia.
• The US government has conducted multiple strikes against alleged drug traffickers in international waters.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has asserted that a recent US military strike targeted a boat that possibly carried Colombian citizens, marking a new escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two nations. In a statement on social media, Petro described the event as a troubling indication of a "new front in the war" emerging in the Caribbean, urging families of potential victims to come forward to report details of the incident, according to SCMP and AA.

The White House has responded firmly to Petro's claims, labeling them as "baseless and reprehensible" and calling for a public retraction. A spokesperson emphasized the importance of maintaining a productive dialogue between the US and Colombia, which they described as an "essential strategic partner," despite notable policy differences. Moreover, they stated that the US military is focused on addressing drug trafficking threats in the region, according to The Hill.

Following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's announcement of the military action, the US government has confirmed that the strike targeted a vessel deemed to be involved in narcotics smuggling. This marks at least the fourth military operation in the Caribbean aimed at drug trafficking vessels since early September, involving the deaths of a total of 21 individuals. The U.S. administration linked these operations to coordinated efforts against the Venezuelan government and its alleged drug-trafficking activities, according to AA and The Hill.

Amid these rising tensions, Petro has indicated intentions to address this issue with European governments during his upcoming trip to Brussels, highlighting the gravity of what he perceives as a new phase in regional conflict. He has sought transparency from the US regarding the identities of those killed in the recent strikes, underlining the critical need for accountability from US military operations, as mentioned in SCMP and AA.