Washington:  The United States announced on Sunday another military strike targeting what it described as a drug-running vessel, this time hitting a boat allegedly linked to Colombia’s leftist rebel group, in a move that expands US operations off South America’s coasts.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth confirmed the attack, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington would suspend financial aid to Colombia, accusing President Gustavo Petro of condoning drug production. The developments mark a sharp deterioration in relations between the two long-standing allies.

The US has deployed warships in the Caribbean near Venezuela since August, striking at least six vessels it claimed were transporting drugs to the United States, resulting in at least 27 deaths so far. Experts have questioned the legality of attacking boats in international waters without attempting to intercept and arrest the crew for trial.

Hegseth said the Friday strike targeted a vessel affiliated with Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), a leftist guerrilla group. “Three crew members were killed,” he stated, adding that the vessel was operating in international waters under the jurisdiction of the US Southern Command. He did not specify the exact location.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused Petro of failing to curb cocaine production despite “large scale payments and subsidies from the USA.” He added, “AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE,” and further charged that Petro is “strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.” The US president repeatedly misspelled Colombia as “Columbia” in the post.

Petro responded on X, calling Trump misinformed. “I recommend that he read Colombia well and determine where the drug traffickers are and where the democrats are,” he wrote.

Relations have been tense in recent weeks. Petro accused the US of murder over a Colombian fisherman killed in a US strike in September. Washington last month decertified Colombia as an ally in the fight against drugs, while Colombia halted arms purchases from its largest military partner. The US also revoked Petro’s visa after his pro-Palestinian speech at the UN General Assembly.

Trump’s post on Sunday hinted at possible intervention, warning: “Petro, a low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America, better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely.”

Since taking office in 2022, Petro has advocated shifting from forced eradication to addressing the social issues driving drug trafficking. Under his administration, coca cultivation, the raw material for cocaine, has reportedly increased by about 70 percent, according to Colombian government and UN data.