Name: Colombia president speaks about U.S. strikes on alleged drug vessels
Uploaded: 2025-10-24T14:22:36.685Z
Duration: 2 min 26 s
Description: CBS News spoke exclusively with Colombian President Gustavo Petro about some U.S. military strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs off the coast of his country.

CBS News spoke exclusively with Colombian President Gustavo Petro about some U.S. military strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs off the coast of his country.

Bogotá

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has responded to recent U.S. military strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking near Colombia. The U.S. government states these operations targeted terrorist organizations in international waters, resulting in at least 37 deaths. Petro has criticized the strikes, labeling attacks on small boats as war crimes and arguing that targeting lower-level workers is ineffective compared to capturing cartel leaders and major shipments.

Petro also addressed threats from President Trump to cut aid and impose tariffs on Colombia, stating his government could manage without U.S. assistance. He cautioned against expanding military operations onto Colombian territory, warning it could increase violence, and urged for diplomatic dialogue instead.

Colombia president speaks about U.S. strikes on alleged drug vessels

Amid President Trump's fight against drug trafficking, it's a war of words that's been brewing with Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Are you ready to lower the rhetoric to perhaps find some diplomatic way of stopping these attacks? You have been insulted. President Trump has blamed Petro for failing to rein in cartels. The Drug Enforcement Administration says about 90 percent of cocaine that reaches the U.S. comes from Colombia. You've got a lousy leader over there right now, a bad guy, a thug. But they make cocaine at levels that we've never seen before. In the past two months, the U.S. has conducted at least nine military strikes, some of them off the coast of Colombia. Does the U.S. tell you? You don't know where it happened? You don't know what kind of attacks these were? Do you know if they were drones or if it was aircraft? The White House said the strikes were on terrorist organizations and that they happened in international waters. Launching missiles over two people in a small boat is a war crime, says Petro. Thirty-seven people have been killed so far in the operations. You don't call them traffickers, the people who are being targeted. You call them workers of trafficking. Trafficking the workers of the business is easy, Petro says, but if you want efficiency, you have to capture the bosses of the business and, he says, also major shipments, not smaller boats. This week, President Trump said his war on drugs could soon move from water to land. On Thursday, two long-range B-1 bombers flew near Venezuela. Petro says he hopes it won't cross Colombian borders, warning that it could generate more violence. And advises President Trump it's best to dialogue instead. President Trump has also threatened to halt aid to Colombia. On that, President Petro told me he thinks his government can make do. President Trump has also threatened tariffs. Petro says he's not losing sleep over it, but the U.S. is Colombia's largest trading partner. I've heard from many Colombians in the business sector who are. Kelly? Very timely on that conversation, Lilia, thank you.

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas in eastern Gaza on Thursday (October 30), Palestinian residents and witnesses said, a day after Israel said it remained committed to a U.S.-backed ceasefire despite launching more lethal bombardments in the territory.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel strikes Gaza after asserting commitment to ceasefire

In the Netherlands, the centrist D66 party looks on course to beat the far right in the national election. Exit polls have predicted Rob Jetten's party will claim victory, which could lead him to become the country's youngest ever prime minister.

Amsterdam

Dutch centrist party wins big in election as far right loses support

President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military on Thursday (October 30) to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years, minutes before beginning a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Washington

Trump tells Pentagon to resume testing U.S. nuclear weapons

President Trump said he's reached a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that could be signed "very soon." Mr. Trump says the U.S. will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods by 10% as China works to reduce the flow of fentanyl.

Global Tariffs

Trump says he's reached a deal with China's Xi

President Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is their first face-to-face since Mr. Trump returned to the White House. Jessi Mitchell anchors this Special Report.

Gyeongju-si

Trump, Xi Jinping meet face-to-face in South Korea over trade

The Bank of Canada made a 25-basis-point cut to its key interest rate while governor Tiff Macklem suggested rates will hold where they are as long as inflation stays in the target range of two per cent.

Ottawa

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 2.25%

After leaving Jamaica with widespread power outages and flooding, Melissa caused fatal flooding in Haiti that has killed 25 people and hit Cuba with a storm surge.

Port-au-Prince

Hurricane Melissa causes floods in Haiti, killing at least 25

Fentanyl production tops the agenda as the U.S. and China discuss curbing exports tied to the deadly opioid crisis.

Fentanyl crackdown central in U.S.-China talks

APEC members face economic uncertainty amid rising US-China rivalry—South Korea prepares for potential fallout from high-stakes talks.

U.S.-China trade tensions leave South Korea navigating APEC fallout

President Putin announced that the Poseidon super torpedo was successfully tested and cannot be intercepted, marking a new stage in Russia’s naval capabilities.

Moscow

Russia says its successfully tested nuclear-capable underwater drone

The Justice Department has put D.C. prosecutors on leave after they submitted a court memo describing those who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as "rioters." The filing was in a case involving Taylor Taranto, who was part of the Capitol riot and is currently facing unrelated weapons charges.

DOJ sidelines prosecutors over Jan. 6 'rioters' court filing

Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff's deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, was found guilty of second-degree murder.

Illinois

Ex-officer found guilty of murder in Sonya Massey shooting

President Donald Trump is sending America's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean to help stop small boats he says are transporting drugs to the U.S. Trump says the U.S. is in "armed conflict" with Venezuelan drug cartels.

U.S. masses more naval forces off coast of Venezuela

The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will lower its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points in its second straight cut.

Fed lowers interest rates by 0.25 percentage points

The police operation was one of the most violent in Brazil’s recent history, with human rights organizations calling for investigations into the deaths.

Rio de Janeiro

Raid on Rio drug trafficking gang leaves at least 64 dead

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday after ripping through Jamaica. CBS News' Jarred Hill has more details.

Havana

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba after slamming Jamaica

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in South Korea on Wednesday (October 29) for the final leg of his Asia trip, optimistic about striking a trade war truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping after summit talks with South Korea's Lee Jae Myung.

Busan

Trump lands in South Korea, hopes to strike deal with China's Xi

The U.S. Embassy in Mali is urging all American citizens to leave the country immediately, warning of rising terror threats and a worsening fuel crisis caused by a jihadi blockade.

Bamako

U.S. Embassy urges Americans to leave Mali immediately

Israeli planes launched strikes in Gaza on Tuesday (October 28) after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of violating a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, marking the latest test of a fragile deal brokered earlier this month by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israel strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating ceasefire

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Tuesday (October 28) that the artificial intelligence chip leader will build seven new supercomputers for the U.S. Department of Energy, and said the company has $500 billion in bookings for its AI chips.

Nvidia will build AI supercomputers for U.S. Energy Department

25 states are suing the Trump administration to stop federal food aid from being suspended amid the government shutdown. All but two of those states, Nevada and Vermont, have a democratic governor.

25 states sue Trump administration over SNAP food stamp funding freeze

A federal judge is ordering a top Border Patrol official in charge of operations in Chicago to give nightly reports to the court after agents were accused of potentially violating limits on their arrest and crowd control tactics.

Chicago

Judge admonishes ICE leader in Chicago after violations

The U.S. military struck four more alleged drug vessels on Monday, killing at least 14 people and leaving one survivor. It marks the 11th time in under two months the U.S. has carried out strikes on vessels allegedly trafficking narcotics.

Caracas

Latest U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats kill at least 14 people

Major League Baseball says it's weighing a ban on all prop betting, which is a wager on an individual player or event that isn't necessarily tied to the outcome.

Los Angeles

MLB weighing ban on all prop betting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered the military to carry out powerful strikes on the Gaza Strip. This comes after Israel accused Hamas of violating their fragile peace deal by returning the wrong remains of a hostage.

Netanyahu orders strikes on Gaza over wrong hostage remains

Hurricane Melissa, a massive Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica, barreling in from the Atlantic with 185 mph sustained winds, the National Hurricane Center said. CBS News meteorologist Jessica Burch has more.

Kingston

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica

The ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations and China signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement, which includes sections on digital, the green economy and other new industries, Beijing's Commerce Ministry said.

Kuala Lumpur

China and ASEAN, hit by U.S. tariffs, sign upgraded free trade pact

President Trump met with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday and signed a trade agreement that the countries made over the summer. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Tokyo

Trump touts trade deals with Japan, heaps praise on new prime minister

Argentina's president, Javier Milei's party, has won a decisive victory in Sunday's mid-term elections. The vote is seen as a support for his economic reforms and drastic austerity measures. In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump had pledged a 40-billion-dollar bailout to bolster Argentina's failing economy and had endorsed Milei publicly.

Buenos Aires

Argentine markets jump after Milei party victory

Venezuela is accusing the U.S. of preparing a false flag attack as the U.S. continues to escalate its military presence in the Caribbean after carrying out multiple deadly strikes on boats the Trump administration said were carrying drugs.

Breakdown