US Targets Colombian President Petro with Sanctions over Drug Trafficking

Sat Oct 25 2025 14:27:32 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant diplomatic move, the US has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to combat drug trafficking within the country, alongside sanctions on key family members and officials.

The United States has levied sanctions against Colombia's President Gustavo Petro and several close associates, citing their negligence in addressing escalating drug trafficking. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent remarked that the situation has deteriorated since Petro's administration, leading to a surge in cocaine production. This decision follows a deterioration in US-Colombia relations, marked by Petro's prior criticisms of US military actions against drug vessels.

The US has placed sanctions on Colombia's left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to curb drug trafficking.

President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

Sanctions have also been imposed on Colombia's Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, as well as Petro's wife and eldest son. They include barring them from accessing assets and properties they may have in the US.

Colombia was once a close ally of Washington's war on drugs, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars annually in military assistance. But Petro and Trump have clashed frequently since Trump's return to power.

Bessent stated that since Petro, a former guerrilla, came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans.

He added that Trump was taking strong action and would not tolerate drug trafficking into the US.

The Treasury labeled Colombia the world's top cocaine exporter, marking it as a significant drug threat to the US.

In a separate statement, the State Department declared that it would not certify Colombia's counter-narcotics efforts.

Petro denied the accusations, emphasizing his long-standing fight against drug trafficking and claiming he has assisted the US in reducing cocaine consumption. He described the situation as a complete paradox but reaffirmed his commitment: not one step back, and never on our knees.

Recently, US military operations in the Caribbean intensified, targeting vessels alleged to be trafficking drugs, leading to heightened tensions. Last week, Trump announced the suspension of payments and subsidies to Colombia, coinciding with Petro's condemnation of the US's military actions as an act of tyranny.

Imposing sanctions on a head of state is rare yet not unprecedented, with similar actions previously taken against leaders in Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela.