US Sanctions Colombian President Petro Amid Drug Trafficking Allegations

Sat Oct 25 2025 15:09:21 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his Interior Minister, and family, citing failures in combating drug trafficking. The sanctions come amid rising tensions between Colombia and the US over anti-drug efforts.

In a significant diplomatic move, the US has sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of enabling drug cartels to prosper and failing to curb cocaine production. Alongside Petro, sanctions extend to Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, as well as Petro's wife and eldest son. This action marks a sharp shift in the US-Colombia relationship, with historical ties over counter-narcotics now strained. In response, Petro has rejected the accusations, highlighting his long-standing efforts against drug trafficking.

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 stated.

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. However, Petro and former President Trump have clashed frequently since Trump's return to power.

Bessent remarked that under Petro's leadership, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans. He emphasized that Trump is taking strong action and would not tolerate drug trafficking into the US.

The Treasury's remarks pointed out Colombia's status as the world's top exporter of cocaine, which it categorizes as a significant drug threat to the United States.

In a separate statement, the state department indicated that it would not certify Colombia's counter-narcotics efforts.

Petro has denied the allegations, asserting on X that he had been battling drug trafficking for decades and had been instrumental in helping the US reduce its cocaine consumption. A complete paradox - but not one step back, and never on our knees, he asserted.

US military activity in the southern Caribbean has intensified in recent weeks, targeting vessels accused of transporting drugs without evidence.

Last week, Trump announced the suspension of payments and subsidies to Colombia. This decision followed Petro's claim to BBC News that the airstrikes on suspected drug vessels were an act of tyranny, accusing US officials of violating his country's sovereignty.

Imposing sanctions on a head of state, while rare, has occurred in instances involving leaders from nations like Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela.