U.S. sanctions Colombian president over drug trade ties

The United States Treasury imposed sanctions on Friday against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife, his son, and a political associate over allegations of enabling drug trafficking operations. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said cocaine production has reached unprecedented levels since Petro assumed office, with narcotics entering American communities at record rates.

Officials accused Petro of advancing policies through his total peace program that aided criminal drug networks and allowed coca farming to expand dramatically. The department also cited his relationship with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and accused him of disclosing confidential banking data that resulted in Colombia losing membership in a global money laundering oversight group.

Petro rejected the accusations through social media posts, arguing that coca cultivation peaked under his predecessor, Ivan Duque, and has decreased under his leadership. He described the sanctions as arbitrary actions by an authoritarian administration after Colombia spent decades assisting American efforts to reduce cocaine use.

The Colombian leader, elected in 2022, has criticized the Trump administration’s immigration measures and military operations against suspected drug transport vessels in Caribbean waters. He pledged to maintain his stance despite the financial penalties imposed by Washington.