Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated on Wednesday that the recent U.S. strike on an alleged narco-terrorist vessel in the southern Caribbean Sea actually targeted a Colombian boat carrying Colombian citizens—not Venezuelans. In his statement, Petro asserted, “There is no war against smuggling; there is a war for oil, and it must be stopped by the world.”

The White House has since rejected Petro’s claims, denying that the vessel or its crew were Colombian. In an official statement, it said: “The United States looks forward to President Petro publicly retracting his baseless and reprehensible statement so that we can return to a productive dialogue focused on building a strong, prosperous future for the people of the United States and Colombia. Despite policy differences with the current government, Colombia remains a vital strategic partner.”