Colombian President Gustavo Petro has defended his government's anti-narcotics record amid pressure from Washington, pointing to historic cocaine seizures — including nearly 10 tonnes captured during a joint Colombian-US maritime operation in February — as evidence that interdiction can succeed without lethal force. The defiance comes as the US military, under a strategy endorsed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has bombed 47 boats suspected of carrying drugs, killing at least 163 people; Petro has condemned the strikes as unlawful "murders." Despite his resistance, Petro has made concessions under US pressure, announcing plans to use glyphosate-spraying drones to eradicate coca crops — a reversal of earlier pledges to protect farmers — though the fumigations have yet to be carried out ahead of upcoming Colombian elections.