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Colombian President Gustavo Petro directed his country’s security agencies on Tuesday to cease exchanging information with the United States, pending the Trump administration halting its attacks on alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean.

In a post on X, Petro stated that Colombia’s military should immediately halt “communications and other agreements with US security agencies,” as ties between the countries, which were previously close allies in the battle against drug trafficking, continue to worsen.

Some critics have compared the US strikes on speedboats believed to be transporting narcotics to unlawful killings.

Petro stated that “the battle against drugs should be aligned with the human rights of Caribbean residents.” It was not immediately clear what information Colombia would cease to provide to the United States. The White House did not offer an immediate reaction to Petro’s most recent remarks.

At least 75 individuals have lost their lives due to US military strikes in international waters since August, as per data provided by the Trump administration.

The protests started in the southern Caribbean, close to Venezuela’s coast, but have now moved to the eastern Pacific, where the US has focused on vessels near Mexico.

Petro has urged for an inquiry into US President Donald Trump regarding alleged war crimes linked to the strikes, which have impacted people from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Petro states that civilians lost their lives

The leader from the left has consistently criticized US drug policies, alleging that the Trump government focused on farmers cultivating coca — the key component in cocaine — rather than addressing prominent drug dealers and those involved in money laundering.

On Sunday, Petro mentioned that he met with the family of a Colombian fisherman who was reportedly killed in one of the attacks.

He could have been carrying fish, or perhaps cocaine, but he had not received a death sentence,” Petro said during a summit between Latin American and European Union leaders held in Colombia on Sunday. “There was no reason to kill him.

The administration of Trump has claimed that Petro is lenient towards traffickers, and has criticized the Colombian president’s choice to exempt rebel leaders from Colombia who are linked to the drug trade from being sent to the United States.

In October, the government imposed economic penalties on Petro and his relatives, due to allegations of their participation in the international drug market.

Petro “has permitted drug cartels to thrive and has declined to halt this activity,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement following the sanctions imposed on October 24. “President Trump is implementing decisive measures to safeguard our country and make it clear that we will not accept the smuggling of drugs into our nation.”

United States increases maritime presence

The rising tensions between the United States and Colombia are occurring as the US increases its naval activity in the southern Caribbean, including eight warships, a submarine, fighter jets, and marines stationed in the area.

The Venezuelan administration has labeled the naval expansion as a danger to its independence, with representatives from the country stating that the US armed forces are getting ready to conduct attacks on the struggling government led by Nicolas Maduro.

The administration of Trump has stated that its deployment is intended to stop drug traffickers, although Trump has also suggested there might be attacks on targets in Venezuela, where the leader has been referred to by officials in Washington as the head of a drug cartel.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated on Tuesday that armed forces, civilian militia members, police officers, and party organizers would be deployed for a training exercise aimed at safeguarding the nation’s airspace.

He made his comments, which were aired on state television, while standing next to a surface-to-air missile system at a military installation in the capital, Caracas, although no other training exercises were visible throughout the city.