US places sanctions on Colombian president over alleged failure to stop cartels

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and several other individuals, including his wife, son, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. The sanctions are alleged to be due to Petro's failure to stop cartels in Colombia. The move comes after the president criticized US support of Israeli military actions and extrajudicial killings of alleged drug traffickers. Petro has denied allowing cartels to flourish and claims his government has seized more cocaine than any other country. The sanctions freeze US assets and generally bar Americans from dealing with those targeted. The action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to combat international illicit drug trade.

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