Treasury Department sanctions Colombian President Gustavo Petro and network

The Treasury Department on Friday announced new sanctions against Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his support network, which includes family members and a close associate.

The Trump administration has accused Petro of being an "illegal drug trader," and tension between the United States and Colombia heated up over Petro’s appearance at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Manhattan last month, where he urged U.S. soldiers to not follow President Donald Trump's orders. 

The Treasury Department said the sanctions stem from an executive order that targets people involved in the global drug trade. Colombia is considered the top producer and exporter of cocaine, which is often purchased by Mexican drug cartels.

“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. “President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity.  

"Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation," he added.

The order also sanctions Petro's wife and son.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.