U.S. Decision Not to Certify Colombia’s Counternarcotics Efforts and Sanctions Actions Against Colombian Officials Involved in Global Illicit Drug Trade

Due to President Gustavo Petro's disastrous and ineffective counternarcotics policies, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not certify Colombia under the criteria of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024, as carried forward by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025. President Trump made it clear in his September 15 determination [on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2026] that Colombia is "failing demonstrably" to uphold its drug control responsibilities. Petro has since doubled down in defense of his failed policies.

The United States will not turn a blind eye to Petro's appeasement and emboldening of narco-terrorists. We are committed to bringing terrorists and drug traffickers to justice and preventing deadly illegal drugs from entering our country. There must be no impunity for drug traffickers or acts of terrorism or violence by criminal armed groups.

We remain steadfast in our support for Colombian security forces, its justice sector, and departmental and municipal officials, and we will continue to partner with them in our joint efforts to combat drug trafficking. Today's decision is not a reflection on these institutions but rather the failures and incompetence of Gustavo Petro and his inner circle.

In addition to today's announcement of the decision not to certify Colombia, the United States, through the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), is sanctioning four Colombian nationals, including President Gustavo Petro, Petro's wife Veronica, his son Nicolás, and Minister of Interior Armando Benedetti for their involvement in the global illicit drug trade. Narcotics trafficking and narcoterrorism continues to fuel violence, corruption, and instability in Colombia, while also posing significant challenges to regional and international security.

Today's announcement concerns a decision not to certify Colombia for certain FY2025 assistance under section 7045(c)(3)(A) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (Div. F, P.L. 118-47), as carried forward by the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (Div. A, P.L. 119-4). Today's designation actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059, which targets the international proliferation of illicit drugs and their means of production. For more information about today's designations, please see Treasury's press release.

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