How far is the US willing to go in its conflict with Colombia and Venezuela? | DW News

The Trump administration leveled sanctions against leftist leader Gustavo Petro over drug trade allegations. It comes as the US military escalates a campaign against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday announced the imposition of US sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The US accuses Petro of failing to stop drug production in the country. His wife and eldest son were sanctioned with him, as was Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. "President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity," said Bessent. "President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation." It is the latest escalation in US-Colombian relations as US President Donald Trump unleashes the US military in the hemisphere; deploying troops to target purported drug cartels, as well as threatening invasions and covert operations in Latin America. Colombia's President Petro has accused the US of ignoring international law to murder innocent people in its drug war.

Pentagon deploys advanced aircraft carrier to Caribbean
US President Donald Trump has redeployed a significant amount of military hardware to the waters of Latin America and the Caribbean for his drug interdiction scheme. Beyond bombers and warships deployed to the region, the Pentagon announced on Friday that it has dispatched the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford, and its carrier air wing to the Caribbean. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Friday that the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the region will "bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere. These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle TCOs [Transnational Criminal Organizations]," he added. Pentagon carries out more strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also announced Friday the 10th US strike on suspected drug traffickers in the region. He said six people had been killed in the operation, bringing to 43 the total number of individuals killed by US forces since the targeted drug engagements began in September.

#Colombia #Caribbean #USSFord

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Post from DW News on October 25, 2025

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