As reported by CNN
On Friday the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the imposition of sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro for his role in global illicit drug trafficking. Also under sanctions were his wife and son, as well as Colombia’s Minister of the Interior Armando Benedetti.
Since President Gustavo Petro took office, cocaine production in Colombia has risen to the highest level in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans.
Petro quickly responded in a post on X, saying that he had hired an American attorney and plans to challenge the sanctions.
Decades-long fight against drug trafficking – and its effective prosecution – has earned me this measure from the government of the very community we have helped curb cocaine use for so much.
Tensions between Petro’s government and U.S. President Donald Trump have grown in recent months, especially after the United States began increasing military activity in the Caribbean region.
The sanctions were introduced a few days after Trump announced halting “all payments” to Colombia. The U.S. State Department also revoked Petro’s visa at the end of the United Nations General Assembly session last month.
CNN reached out to the Colombian presidency for additional comments.
For the United States, nonviolent expression is the same as being a drug trafficker.
Greens, home.
Context and Reaction to Sanctions
In this move, the United States seeks to intensify pressure for involvement in international illicit drug trade and to underscore Colombia’s role as a key player in regional security. The response from official Colombian leadership remains public and sharply separated from the events, with a focus on legal defense and further legal action.
Western remarks and responses from officials continue to shape the international narrative around the fight against drug trafficking and the impact of sanctions on Colombia’s domestic policy.
The material was prepared by journalists Michael Rios, Isabel Tejera, and Mauricio Torres.
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