Voices from the Caribbean: The Impact of US Strikes on Colombian Fishermen

Sun Nov 23 2025 11:40:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In the wake of US military operations targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean, families, including that of missing fisherman Alejandro Carranza, are left in uncertainty and mourning, raising questions about international law and the ethics of military intervention.

Following US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, Colombian fishermen and families are left grappling with loss and fear. The case of Alejandro Carranza, missing since a strike, highlights the human cost of these operations and invites criticism over US tactics. Local fishermen express their fears of being wrongfully targeted amidst increasing military actions against drug traffickers in Venezuela.

Lizbeth Perez looks fearful as she gazes out onto the postcard-perfect fishing bay of Taganga, on Colombia's Caribbean coast, recalling the moment she last spoke to her uncle in September.

He was a kind man, a good person, a friend. A good father, uncle son. He was a cheerful person. He loved his work and his fishing, she said, mourning her uncle Alejandro Carranza.

Carranza said goodbye to his family on the morning of September 14, heading out on his boat as usual from La Guajira, Venezuela. The next day, US President Donald Trump announced a military strike in international waters targeting a vessel linked to drug trafficking. Though three suspected cartel members were killed, Carranza's fate remains unknown.

The truth is we don't know it was him, we don't have any proof that it was him, apart from what we saw on the news, Perez explained.

The US military operations, which began in September, have reportedly involved 21 strikes resulting in the deaths of 83 individuals associated with drug trafficking. The US government asserts the campaign aims to secure US borders by eliminating narco-terrorists posing threats.

However, the strikes have led to condemnation from Colombian officials. President Gustavo Petro asserted that Colombian citizens were among the casualties, accusing the US of murder and demanding accountability.

Petro recently ordered a suspension of intelligence sharing with the US until the strikes cease, further escalating tensions between Colombia and the US. Meanwhile, families of the victims call for justice, with a lawyer for Carranza's family planning to pursue legal action against the US for what they argue amounts to extrajudicial killings.

This issue raises broader questions about military intervention and international law, particularly regarding the civilian safety of fishermen like Juan Assis Tejeda, who fear they could be misidentified as targets. With ongoing discussions about possible military actions against Venezuela, the fishing communities in the Caribbean coast remain on edge.

As the world watches, these families endure the emotional toll of uncertainty and loss, standing as silent witnesses to a geopolitical struggle that reaches far beyond their shores.