U.S. Reaffirms Support for Colombia Amid Sanctions on President Gustavo Petro

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized on Saturday that Washington’s recent sanctions targeting Colombian President Gustavo Petro are not intended to harm Colombia’s citizens or its economy. Speaking to reporters while traveling from Israel to Qatar, Rubio clarified that the United States maintains a “strong and enduring” partnership with the Colombian people and key national institutions, particularly the country’s security forces.

The remarks followed Washington’s decision on Friday to blacklist President Petro and his family, accusing him of emboldening “narco terrorists.” The move has stirred diplomatic tensions between Bogotá and Washington. Rubio explained that while the Trump administration viewed Petro as increasingly hostile, the actions were specifically directed at his leadership—not the Colombian nation as a whole.

“This is not a U.S.-versus-Colombia thing,” Rubio stated. He stressed that the administration deliberately avoided trade or tariff sanctions to prevent economic repercussions for Colombian citizens. “We separate that from the people of Colombia. That’s why you don’t see tariff action. That’s why we don’t want to harm the Colombian economy,” he added.

The U.S. military has also heightened its presence in the southern Caribbean, carrying out strikes on vessels in international waters that it claims are involved in drug trafficking. President Donald Trump intensified the rhetoric earlier this week by labeling Petro an “illegal drug leader” after Petro accused Washington of “murder” in relation to those military operations.

Despite escalating diplomatic friction, Rubio underscored that the U.S. remains committed to Colombia’s long-term stability and cooperation, reiterating that the sanctions were meant to hold a foreign leader accountable rather than penalize an allied nation.