By Kavita Mistry 
The Trump administration on Friday (October 24, 2025) imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, his family and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade.
The U.S. Treasury Department leveled the penalties against Mr. Petro; his wife, Veronica del Socorro Alcocer Garcia; his son, Nicolas Fernando Petro Burgos; and Colombian Interior Minister Armando Alberto Benedetti.
Mr. Petro “has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation.”
The move comes amid deadly U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats off South America.
“Combating drug trafficking effectively for decades brings me this measure from the government of the society we helped so much to stop its use of cocaine,” Mr. Petro wrote on X. “Quite a paradox, but not one step back and never on our knees.”