On Friday, the U.S. announced sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom Washington accuses of enabling illegal drug trade, as well as against his wife and son, LETA reports citing AFP.
"President Petro has allowed drug cartels to thrive and has refused to stop their activities," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement regarding the sanctions.
"President [Donald] Trump is acting decisively to protect our country and to make it clear that we will not tolerate drug smuggling into the U.S.," Bessent added.
The sanctions were imposed amid an escalating conflict between Petro and Trump. The President of Colombia accuses his American counterpart of "extrajudicial killings" that violate international law, following strikes on drug-laden ships off the coast of South America.
In less than two months, the U.S. has destroyed 10 such vessels, resulting in at least 43 deaths.
Colombia has demanded that Washington cease these attacks. In response, Trump called Petro a "bandit" and a drug smuggler.
Trump also announced the cessation of American aid to Colombia amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars and threatened to impose high tariffs on imports of Colombian goods.
