(MENAFN) Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced that his country will suspend intelligence sharing with the United States in response to its airstrikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean.

Petro made the announcement on X on Tuesday, noting that the suspension would remain in effect as long as the US continues the operations. “The fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people,” he stated.

The Pentagon claims the strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, target vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking from Venezuela and Colombia. Petro, however, has condemned the attacks as illegal.

The US government has imposed sanctions on Petro, his family, and several cabinet members, alleging ties to drug cartels—a charge Petro denies, highlighting his administration’s work to dismantle trafficking networks.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also criticized the campaign, suggesting that the US should focus on Belgium, which was recently described by one of its judges as an emerging “narco-state.”

Since early September, US forces have targeted 20 small vessels in airstrikes, resulting in at least 76 deaths, according to Pentagon figures. The US has not provided verifiable evidence linking the vessels to drug cartels, and critics argue the campaign may be a pretext for regime change efforts in Venezuela.

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