The Dark Side of Colombia Few People Know

#29: U.S. Airstrike Sparks Diplomatic Tension

In 2025, Colombian officials accused the U.S. military of bombing a Colombian fishing boat during an anti-narcotics operation near Venezuela. Several civilians were reportedly killed, prompting outrage and renewed debate over U.S. involvement in Colombia’s drug war.

The incident strained relations between the two longtime allies. President Gustavo Petro condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty, while Washington claimed it was targeting a suspected narco vessel. The event reignited old questions about who controls Colombia’s skies—and whose agenda drives the war on drugs.