The United States has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of failing to curb drug trafficking and allowing cartels to thrive — marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Bogotá.

The move, announced by the US Treasury, accuses Petro’s administration of overseeing a “disastrous and ineffective” anti-drug policy that has coincided with a surge in cocaine production — now reportedly at its highest levels in decades. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Colombian cocaine was “flooding the United States and poisoning Americans.”

The sanctions also target Petro’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, his wife, and eldest son, freezing any US-based assets and banning them from entry into the country.

Petro fired back, calling the move “an arbitrariness typical of an oppressive regime.” He insisted that his government has actually slowed coca crop expansion and accused Washington of hypocrisy.

“I’ve been fighting drug trafficking for decades,” Petro said. “The US should reduce demand for cocaine before blaming Colombia.”

A Crisis Between Former Allies

The diplomatic fallout comes after weeks of rising tension between Petro and President Donald Trump, who returned to office earlier this year. The flashpoint: US airstrikes on boats allegedly used to traffic cocaine, which have killed dozens, including some Colombian nationals. Trump defended the strikes as “necessary,” while Petro denounced them as “murder” and an act of “tyranny.”

The US, once Colombia’s closest ally in the “war on drugs,” has now revoked Bogotá’s certification as a partner, cutting off financial and military assistance. In response, Petro announced Colombia would stop purchasing weapons from the US.

What’s at Stake

Petro’s presidency — the first leftist government in Colombia’s history — promised a new approach to the drug crisis focused on peace talks and social reform rather than militarized crackdowns. But with violence resurging and cartel negotiations faltering, his “Total Peace” plan is on shaky ground.

Researchers in Colombia say cocaine output remains at record highs. Much of it, they note, is purchased by Mexican cartels before being trafficked into the US — a complex chain that underscores how deeply entrenched the problem remains.

While sanctioning a sitting head of state is rare, the US has done so before — against leaders of Russia, Venezuela, and North Korea. The decision underscores how far relations between Washington and Bogotá have deteriorated under Petro, once seen as a symbol of Latin America’s progressive wave.

As Petro told the UN in New York, the issue, in his view, goes beyond narcotics:

“This is not about controlling drugs. It’s about controlling Latin America.”