"He has allowed drug cartels to flourish"/ US sanctions Colombian president

2025-10-24 22:47:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"He has allowed drug cartels to flourish"/ US sanctions Colombian

The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom Washington accuses of failing to curb illegal drug trafficking. His wife and son have also been sanctioned.

"President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and has refused to stop this activity," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement announcing the decision.

"US President Donald Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and this makes it clear that we will not allow drugs to be trafficked into our country ," he added.

The sanctions come amid a dispute between Petros and Trump, with the Colombian leader accusing his US counterpart of "extrajudicial executions" that "violate international law" over US attacks on ships suspected of smuggling drugs.

Rubio warns that the US military will continue operations against drug cartels.
The United States has destroyed 10 ships and killed at least 43 people in less than two months, according to a calculation made by the AFP agency, based on US data.

Colombia has demanded that Washington stop the attacks, which has angered Trump, who has called Petro a "bandit" and a "drug trafficker."

Trump has also announced the termination of hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid to Colombia and has threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian goods.

Petro has reacted to the news that he and his family have been placed on the American blacklist.

"No step back and never kneel ," Petro wrote on social media, echoing slogans used by Latin American revolutionaries.

Petros' sanction is said to be related to the international spread of illegal drugs or the means for their production.

During a press conference on Thursday, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt told reporters that Washington "does not see any easing of tensions from Colombia's reckless leader at this time." /REL