U.S. President Trump (left) and Colombian President Petro. AFP News Agency. 

The U.S. Donald Trump administration on the 24th (local time) imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his family, holding them responsible for neglecting drug trafficking organizations.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on the same day that it would sanction President Petro and his spouse, President Petro's son Nicolás Fernando Petro Burgos, and Colombian Interior Minister Armando Alberto Benedetti, among others.

Individuals placed on the sanctions list will have all their assets within the United States, and any assets and associated profits owned or controlled by U.S. persons, frozen, and all transactions with U.S. persons will be prohibited.

In a statement, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said of President Petro, "He allowed drug cartels to thrive and did not stop their activities." He added, "President Trump is taking strong action to make it clear that our country will be protected and that drug trafficking will not be tolerated."

This decision comes amid recent diplomatic tensions between Colombia, currently governed by a left-wing administration, and the United States.

On the 19th, President Trump wrote on the social media platform Truth Social, "Petro (Colombian President) is a leader of illegal drugs and is strongly encouraging drug production across Colombia, whether large or small," and announced a halt to U.S. funding for Colombia's drug interdiction efforts.

In response, Colombia immediately recalled its ambassador to the U.S., Daniel García Peña, to express its protest.

Colombia had been one of the closest partners of the United States in South America until recently, but relations deteriorated rapidly under the Trump administration.

In late January, President Petro refused landing for an immigrant repatriation flight departing from the U.S. In response, a furious Trump announced tariffs. Petro countered by saying, "We are not Nazis," and threatened retaliatory tariffs, but eventually yielded after nine hours to the strong pressure from the U.S. government, which decided to employ all coercive measures.

In July, tensions between the two countries escalated with allegations that a former Colombian official sought the support of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to impeach President Petro.

Furthermore, last month, the U.S. State Department deemed President Petro's attendance at a New York protest while visiting the U.S. for the UN General Assembly as an "act of incitement" and abruptly revoked his visa.

Yonhap News Agency