In a fiery escalation of international tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to confront — and even enabling — the surge of powerful drug cartels. The sanctions extend not only to Petro but also to his wife and eldest son, marking one of Washington’s most aggressive moves against a sitting Latin American leader in recent years.
Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, delivered the stunning announcement:
“President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop them. President Trump is taking strong action to protect our country and sending a clear message — the United States will not tolerate drug trafficking into our homeland.”
Sanctions Target Petro’s Inner Circle and Cabinet
The crackdown doesn’t stop with the presidential family. The U.S. Treasury also sanctioned Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, intensifying an already explosive dispute between Washington and Bogotá.
The tensions erupted after Petro accused Trump of carrying out “extrajudicial executions” during U.S. operations targeting drug-smuggling vessels. According to AFP’s analysis of U.S. data, American forces have destroyed 10 boats and killed at least 43 people in under two months.
Colombia has demanded an immediate halt to the lethal maritime strikes — a demand that reportedly infuriated Trump, who retaliated by calling Petro a “gangster” and a drug dealer, slashing hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid and threatening tariffs on Colombian goods.
Petro Fires Back: “Never on Our Knees”
Rather than backing down, Petro answered with defiance.
“Not one step back, and never on our knees,” he wrote on social media — echoing slogans used by historic Latin American revolutionaries.
Interior Minister Benedetti went even further, launching a blistering attack on Washington:
“This proves that every empire is unjust. For the U.S., peaceful dissent is the same as being a drug dealer. Gringos, go home.”
A Diplomatic Clash With Global Consequences
The dramatic confrontation signals a dangerous turning point in U.S.–Colombia relations. With aid suspended, tariffs looming, and accusations flying on both sides, the once-stable partnership between the two nations is now edging toward a full-blown geopolitical rupture.