U.S. Prosecutors Reportedly Investigating Colombian President Petro Over Potential Ties With Cartels

U.S. prosecutors are investigating Colombian President Gustavo Petro over potential ties with drug-trafficking organizations, according to a new report.

The New York Times detailed that inquiries revolve around potential meetings between Petro and drug traffickers, and whether his campaign requested money from them.

There are two different investigations but it is not clear whether they will result in criminal charges. There were no indications that the White House played a role in beginning any of the inquiries, the outlet added.

However, Trump frequently clashed with Petro over the past months, particularly over regional policies. The U.S. sanctioned him in October, with the Department of the Treasury alleging he allowed narco-terrorist organizations to thrive under the framework of his "total peace" plan, which the U.S. says has contributed to increased cocaine production in Colombia.

Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent added that Petro had also "failed demonstrably" to halt the flow of cocaine into the United States.

Petro called the sanctions "a complete paradox" and said he had already retained legal counsel in the United States. "Fighting drug trafficking effectively for decades has brought me this action from the government of the society we have worked so hard to protect from cocaine consumption. A complete paradox. Not a single step back and never on our knees," Petro wrote back then.

He also pushed back on Bessent's claims that he was an ally and protector of drug cartels, calling the Treasury Department's assertions false.

Petro noted that during Colombia's previous administration under Iván Duque, coca cultivation reached 230,000 hectares, but since 2022, the annual growth rate of the crop has been declining. "What the U.S. Treasury is doing is an arbitrary action typical of an oppressive regime," Petro added.

However, tensions thawed in February after the two met in the White House. Trump said the two had a "very good meeting."

"He and I weren't exactly the best of friends, but I wasn't insulted because I never met him. I didn't know at all. And we got along very well. And we are we're working on that. We're working on some other things too, including sanctions," Trump added in early February.

Petro also celebrated the outcome of the meeting, posting several pictures of the two on social media. One featured a binder with a signed letter from Trump reading "Gustavo - a great honor. I love Colombia," along with a picture of the two shaking hands at the Oval Office.