Trump Imposes Sanctions on Colombia’s President Over Drug Allegations/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The United States sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a top minister over alleged ties to drug trafficking. The sanctions escalate tensions between Washington and one of its key South American allies. Petro denies the accusations, calling the actions political and vowing to fight back in U.S. courts.
US-Colombia Sanctions Quick Looks
- The Trump administration sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his family Friday.
- Treasury accuses Petro of enabling drug cartels and failing to stop trafficking activity.
- Petro’s wife, son, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti were also sanctioned.
- Sanctions follow American military strikes on alleged cartel vessels in the region.
- Petro denounced the move as retaliation and pledged legal defense in U.S. courts.
- The U.S. is also cutting Colombia’s foreign aid by roughly 20%.
- President Trump labeled Petro “an illegal drug leader” and threatened tariffs.
- Petro insists his policies have led to record cocaine seizures and reforms.
- UN data shows record coca cultivation under Petro’s government.
- Venezuela condemned the sanctions as “illegal” and supportive of U.S. aggression.
Trump Imposes Sanctions on Colombia’s President Over Drug Allegations
Deep Look
WASHINGTON — In a major diplomatic escalation, the United States on Friday imposed sweeping sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him and close family members of aiding drug trafficking activities. The move, driven by the Trump administration, strikes at one of the U.S.’s most historically strategic partners in Latin America.
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Petro, his wife Veronica Alcocer, his son Nicolas Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, citing their alleged roles in allowing drug cartels to thrive under the guise of political leadership.
“President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. He directly accused Petro of enabling the expansion of drug cartels across Colombia and beyond.
This development follows a sharp increase in U.S. military operations against suspected narco-traffickers in the region. Just hours before the sanctions were announced, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier to waters off South America — the most significant military mobilization in the area in years.
Petro fired back on social media, calling the sanctions paradoxical given his government’s efforts against narcotics. “Quite a paradox, but not one step back and never on our knees,” Petro wrote. He said he has hired an American legal team to defend himself in court.
Colombia’s aid from the U.S. — previously around $230 million annually — is also being slashed by 20% as part of the fallout. That represents a significant cut from the $700 million or more in recent years. A State Department spokesperson confirmed the reduction, although no specific figures were disclosed.
President Trump has recently intensified rhetoric against Petro, calling him “an illegal drug leader” and threatening steep tariffs on Colombian exports. “He’s a guy that is making a lot of drugs,” Trump said in a meeting earlier this week. “He better watch it, or we’ll take very serious action.”
Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, has long pursued a new strategy for narcotics policy that emphasizes negotiation with coca growers and a crackdown on financial networks behind drug empires. His administration claims to have seized record amounts of cocaine in recent months, though United Nations data shows coca cultivation hit record highs in 2023 — about 253,000 hectares, or roughly triple the size of New York City.
Venezuela, also under increased scrutiny by the U.S., voiced support for Petro. The Maduro government denounced the sanctions as illegal and accused the U.S. of attempting to destabilize Colombia from within. The statement praised Petro’s “balanced and sovereign” anti-drug policies.
Trump’s recent military actions in the Caribbean have added to speculation that the administration’s strategy might include a broader regional campaign to push out leaders it deems uncooperative in drug enforcement. The U.S. military’s strikes on alleged cartel boats have already killed 43 individuals in recent weeks.
Petro has also criticized these strikes, which often occur in international waters or near Venezuela. He has rejected U.S. efforts to deport migrants via military flights and has been at odds with Washington over military obedience, especially after urging U.S. soldiers not to follow orders that contravene international law.
Trump’s political and legal offensive against Petro appears set to become a long-term flashpoint in hemispheric relations. With Petro turning to the U.S. legal system to fight back, the growing standoff may have implications well beyond Latin America, reshaping diplomatic norms between Washington and its allies.
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