US Imposes Sanctions on Colombian President Petro over Drug Trade Allegations

The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family, and a government minister, accusing them of allowing drug cartels to flourish and failing to curb cocaine production, which has reached its highest level in decades. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that these measures aim to protect the U.S. from drug trafficking. Trump has publicly denounced Petro as a "thug" and a drug trafficker, cutting off aid to Colombia and threatening tariffs, further escalating tensions between the two nations. The U.S. has also conducted extrajudicial military strikes on vessels suspected of smuggling drugs near Colombia's coast, actions condemned by Petro as violations of international law and extrajudicial executions. Petro has vowed to challenge the accusations and maintain his anti-drug policies that contrast with the U.S. hardline approach. These developments have severely strained the historically close U.S.-Colombia relationship, raising concerns about future cooperation on counternarcotics and security.