US Sanctions Colombian President Gustavo Petro and His Family Over Cocaine Surge
The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife, and their children. The U.S. Treasury Department announced that the decision was made in response to an unprecedented increase in cocaine production in Colombia during Petro’s tenure.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) emphasized in an official statement that the sanctions followed a comprehensive review of the narcotics trafficking situation in the Latin American country. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bissaint stated that under Petro’s leadership, drug production has reached its highest levels in decades, significantly affecting the lives of many American citizens.
Bissaint added that the sanctions are part of a broader strategy to curb global narcotics trafficking and reduce cocaine availability within the United States. He noted that alongside diplomatic measures, the U.S. government will utilize financial tools to pressure countries involved in the production or transit of illicit drugs.
According to the Associated Press, the sanctions target not only the president but also his immediate family members. The move comes amid increasingly strained relations between Washington and Bogotá in recent months.
On September 16, Gustavo Petro criticized a U.S. Navy operation in Colombian waters — which resulted in the destruction of a fishing boat — calling it a “criminal act and a violation of national sovereignty.” The comment drew a sharp response from U.S. President Donald Trump.
In reaction, Trump announced that all U.S. financial aid to Colombia would be suspended. He warned that if Petro’s government fails to control drug production, the United States will act unilaterally to halt the trend.
In response to the sanctions, Petro issued a statement saying, “Decades of my fight against drug trafficking have now placed me and my family under U.S. sanctions, but we will not yield to pressure.” He further asserted that his family’s inclusion on the U.S. blacklist comes despite their efforts to reduce cocaine consumption in Western societies.
These developments highlight a growing climate of mutual distrust between the two countries, which could have serious implications for regional anti-trafficking cooperation and efforts to combat drug trafficking.
