The United States on Friday sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the latest escalation of tensions between Washington and Bogotá over drug trafficking and other issues of bilateral importance.
In a press release, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the left-wing leader “has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity.” The sanctions target Petro and his associates — chiefly his wife, son and several leading Colombian officials.
The imposition of sanctions is also a reflection of the continued tensions between Petro and the Trump administration, as the Colombian leader has criticized the U.S. military buildup in the Western Hemisphere in the name of combating drug cartels. Petro also previously condemned U.S. support for what he alleged was an Israeli genocide in Gaza, and called on U.S. officials to face charges for a recent spate of strikes against alleged drug trafficking vessels.
In September, the U.S. revoked Petro’s visa, citing comments he made at a pro-Palestine protest on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Colombia was also recently restored to a U.S. list of countries seen as major hubs of narcotics trafficking.
Petro, who as a young man joined a Marxist guerrilla group that fought against the Colombian state during the South American country’s ongoing, decades-long armed conflict, has advocated for reaching “total peace” with militant groups that continue to fight against the Colombian state. He’s also downplayed the need for eradicating coca fields and blamed Western elites for driving demand for cocaine, severing cooperation with long-time allies, including the United States. But there is no evidence that Petro is involved with or directly supportive of the cartels the U.S. links him to.
