Phoenix 24
Washington D.C., October 2025
The administration of Donald Trump announced personal sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his wife Verónica Alcocer, his son Nicolás Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. The U.S. Department of the Treasury added them to the Office of Foreign Assets Control list, accusing them of allowing the expansion of drug trafficking during the current Colombian administration.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that cocaine production in Colombia has reached record levels and attributed the increase to a lack of effective action by the government. The decision freezes assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits any transaction with American entities or citizens, a measure rarely applied to a sitting head of state.
President Petro described the sanctions as a paradox, recalling that Colombia has long been Washington’s main partner in the fight against drugs. Speaking from the Casa de Nariño, he declared that his country would not yield to external pressure and vowed to defend its sovereignty. Benedetti called the measure a “political reprisal” disguised as an anti-drug initiative.
Across Latin America, the announcement sparked surprise and concern. Several governments noted that there was no precedent for a sitting president being directly sanctioned by the United States. Diplomatic circles interpreted the move as a rupture in bilateral cooperation and a signal of political force aimed at the entire region.
Sources at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington warned that the decision could undermine joint security programs, while European analysts emphasized the economic risks of targeting a head of state. In Asia, experts at the Lowy Institute suggested that Colombia might seek new strategic partners to reduce its dependence on the United States.
In Bogotá, uncertainty spread through financial and political sectors. Officials at the Banco de la República acknowledged that the sanctions could restrict access to international credit and affect the country’s risk rating. The Foreign Ministry is preparing an official response and considering appeals to multilateral institutions to challenge the decision.
The episode marks a turning point in relations between the two nations and opens a period of diplomatic tension that redefines the boundaries of the anti-drug policy across the continent.
Phoenix24: clarity in the grey zone. / Phoenix24: claridad en la zona gris.