Trump Administration Sanctions Colombian President Gustavo Petro

The Trump administration sanctioned Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday (24), blocking assets of Petro and his family, as announced by the US Treasury. In a statement, the US Treasury accused Petro of being involved in drug trafficking to justify the imposed sanctions, although no evidence was presented to support the accusation. The economic sanction comes after Petro and Trump exchanged insults in recent days, with the Colombian president publicly criticizing US attacks on ships in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Petro accused the American president of ‘extrajudicial executions,’ while Trump referred to him as a ‘drug lord’. In response to the sanctions, Petro denied the accusation, stating that he has been fighting drug trafficking for decades and will not back down. He said, ‘In fact, the threat by Bernie Moreno has been fulfilled: me, my children, and my wife have been added to the OFAC list. … Fighting against drug trafficking for decades and effectively brings me this measure from the government of the society we have helped so much to combat cocaine consumption. Quite paradoxical, but no step back and never on my knees,’ Petro asserted.