US Imposes Sanctions on Colombian President Petro Over Alleged Drug Trafficking Failures

The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombia's President Gustavo Petro on Friday, extending these measures to include his wife and son as well.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared in an official statement that "President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity."

The statement further elaborated that "President (Donald) Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation."

These sanctions emerge amid escalating tensions between Petro and Trump. Colombia's president has accused the US of "carrying out extrajudicial executions" that "violate international law" through strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels.

According to an AFP analysis based on US data, American forces have destroyed 10 vessels and caused the deaths of at least 43 individuals in less than two months.

The Colombian government has issued demands for Washington to cease these operations, which has angered Trump, who subsequently labeled Petro a "thug" and drug trafficker.

In response to the diplomatic crisis, Trump announced the termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid to Colombia and threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian exports.

Following the announcement of sanctions against him and his family members on Friday, Petro responded defiantly on social media, stating: "Not one step back and never on my knees," echoing revolutionary slogans commonly used throughout Latin America.

The sanctions against Petro were justified on grounds related to international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production.

During a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt informed reporters that Washington was not "seeing de-escalation from the unhinged leader of Colombia right now."