The US Treasury has imposed sweeping sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a senior minister, accusing him of enabling drug cartels to traffic cocaine to North America. Petro denies the allegations, asserting that his administration has made record progress in dismantling criminal networks and seizing narcotics.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that since Petro took office in 2022, cocaine production in Colombia has reached the highest rate in decades, exacerbating the drug crisis in the US. The sanctions also target First Lady Verónica del Socorro Alcocer Garcia, Petro’s son Nicolas, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, whom the US describes as accomplices. These measures freeze their assets in the US and restrict American entities from engaging with them.
Trump called Petro ‘a lousy leader’ and ‘a thug,’ labeling Colombia as ‘a drug den.’ Petro responded by calling the sanctions ‘arbitrariness typical of an oppressive regime,’ emphasizing Colombia’s sovereignty. The sanctions come amid US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, which Colombia condemned as violations of international law.