US imposes sanctions on Colombia’s president

The U․S․ Treasury Department announced on Friday that it is sanctioning Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of playing a “role in the global illicit drug trade”, CNN writes.

Also sanctioned are Petro’s wife and son, and Colombia’s interior minister.

“Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has exploded to the highest rate in decades, flooding the United States and poisoning Americans,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.

Petro, who has previously rejected such accusations, swiftly responded to the announcement, saying on X that he had retained an American lawyer and intended to fight the sanctions.