The US has placed sanctions on Colombia's left-wing president, Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to curb drug trafficking. 'President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity,' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Sanctions have also been imposed on Colombia's Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, as well as Petro's wife and eldest son, restricting their access to assets and properties in the US.

Colombia was formerly a close ally in the US's war on drugs, receiving extensive military support. However, tensions have risen between Petro and Trump, particularly regarding the increase in cocaine production, which has reportedly reached historic highs under Petro's leadership. Bessent stated that production has surged, posing a significant threat to the US and its citizens.

Petro has refuted these claims, asserting that he has long fought against drug trafficking and accusing the US of misrepresenting the situation. The sanctions represent a rare action of targeting a head of state, following precedents set against leaders from Russia, North Korea, and Venezuela. As US military activities in the Caribbean escalate, the relationship between the two countries continues to deteriorate.