Colombian President Petro Demands Trump Face Justice Over Venezuelan Strikes

Colombia's Petro Urges 'Criminal Process' Against Trump for Venezuelan Strikes In a dramatic address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for a "criminal process" to be opened against his US counterpart, Donald Trump, over Washington's strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats off the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Petro's remarks came as he condemned the deaths of unarmed young people in the attacks, which UN experts have described as extrajudicial executions. The Colombian leader accused Trump of ignoring international law and violating human rights. "We cannot remain silent in the face of such actions," Petro said. "The United States must be held accountable for these crimes." According to reports, at least three boats were targeted by US forces in the strikes, resulting in the deaths of over a dozen people. The US government has claimed that the attacks were part of an anti-drug operation aimed at disrupting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's alleged narco-trafficking network. However, Petro disputed this narrative, pointing out that the victims were poor young people who had been living on the boats and were not involved in any illicit activities. "These young people were not criminals," he emphasized. "They were innocent civilians who lost their lives due to the actions of a foreign power." The controversy surrounding the US strikes has sparked widespread outrage among human rights groups and international leaders, with many calling for an independent investigation into the incident. Petro's address marked a significant escalation in tensions between Colombia and the United States, which have been strained over issues such as trade and immigration policies. The Colombian leader's call for a criminal process against Trump is seen as a bold move to challenge US actions and promote accountability at the international level. The UN General Assembly has scheduled an emergency meeting to discuss the incident and potential next steps. Meanwhile, the US State Department has issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and reiterating its commitment to upholding human rights. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the world is watching with bated breath as Colombia's Petro takes on the might of the United States in a battle for justice and accountability. *Reporting by Theguardian.*