US prosecutors have opened an investigation into Colombian President Gustavo Petro over alleged links to drug cartels operating in the Latin American nation.
According to recent reports, federal attorneys in Brooklyn and Manhattan are examining whether Petro met with drug traffickers and solicited campaign donations from them during his successful 2022 presidential bid. The allegations remain unverified by independent sources.
Petro issued a firm denial on Friday, insisting the claims were baseless and warning they could heighten tensions between Washington and Bogotá.
In a post on X, he wrote, “In Colombia, there is not a single investigation into my relationship with drug traffickers, for one simple reason: I have never in my life spoken with a drug trafficker.”
Although no charges have been filed, the timing of the probe is significant, coming just two-and-a-half months before Colombia’s presidential election on May 31, 2026.
Petro, the country’s first left-wing president, is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election, meaning the vote will serve as a referendum on his four-year term.
Relations between Petro and US President Donald Trump have been strained, with both leaders trading public accusations in the past, culminating in a diplomatic rift in January 2026.
To ease tensions, Trump and Petro held a telephone conversation to address bilateral issues, followed by Petro’s visit to the White House in early February.
During the trip, the Colombian delegation met US counterparts, including Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a recent media briefing, when asked about potential US military strikes on Colombia, Trump responded, “It sounds good to me.”
