When Columbus wrote a letter to the royal court of Madrid saying he had found Asia he was actually what?

When Columbus wrote a letter to the royal court of Madrid claiming he had found Asia, he was actually referring to the islands in the Caribbean, mistakenly believing they were part of the East Indies. His misidentification stemmed from his goal of finding a western route to Asia for trade. This error ultimately led to the European colonization of the Americas, as he had discovered a new continent instead. Columbus's assertion reflects the limited geographical knowledge of his time and had significant historical consequences.