• The US military conducted strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing several individuals.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated these operations are part of a broader anti-narcotics campaign targeted at Colombian drug cartels.
• Tensions have escalated between President Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, with accusations flying from both sides.
• Colombia's government has urged the US to adhere to international laws regarding military actions on high seas.

The United States military has expanded its campaign against drug trafficking with lethal strikes on two suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Pacific Ocean, leading to a total of five deaths from these recent operations, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He termed the targets as "narco-terrorists" involved in narcotics trafficking, emphasizing that these actions represent a broader military strategy against drug cartels, which Trump equated to a "war" akin to the US war on terror launched post-9/11, according to SCMP, India Times, and BBC.

As the operations expanded into the Pacific, Secretary Hegseth confirmed that both vessels targeted were operating within known trafficking routes and that the strikes were executed in international waters, raising questions about their legality under international law. Human rights advocates have criticized these military strikes as potentially unlawful extrajudicial actions, according to Le Monde and Anadolu Agency.

Clashes in rhetoric between US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have intensified, with Trump labeling Petro a "thug" and suggesting he is associated with drug trafficking himself. Petro has vowed to fight back legally, asserting that Colombia seeks to handle the drug crisis collaboratively with the US, indicating a significant diplomatic breakdown, according to India Times, CBS News, and Le Monde.

Amidst ongoing strikes that have reportedly resulted in at least 37 casualties since September, Colombia has formally requested the US to cease its military operations and to respect international law norms, highlighting the complications arising from the lethal approach to drug trafficking enforcement. The Colombian foreign ministry criticized the destruction of vessels without prior attempts to detain suspects legally, citing a lack of evidence supporting US claims of drug-related activities, according to CBS News and Anadolu Agency.