{"id":1837832,"date":"2026-03-20T21:56:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1837832"},"modified":"2026-03-20T21:56:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T18:56:32","slug":"colombia-hosts-talks-on-us-drug-strikes-eu-cocaine-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1837832","title":{"rendered":"Colombia hosts talks on US drug strikes, EU cocaine crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/73576027_6.jpg”]<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApEJ<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Petro has consistently denied allegations of drug trafficking [July 2025]Image: Esteban Felix\/AP Photo\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Federal prosecutors in the United States<\/a>\u00a0are investigating\u00a0Colombian<\/a> President Gustavo Petro for alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to US media reports.<\/p>\n

Petro has been designated a “priority target” by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Associated Press\u00a0news agency reported.<\/p>\n

What do we know about the investigation into\u00a0Colombia’s president?<\/h2>\n

According to the DEA’s records,\u00a0Petro has\u00a0appeared in multiple investigations dating to 2022.<\/p>\n

The <\/em>\u2060New \u2060York Times<\/em> reported Friday that Petro\u00a0is under criminal investigation by at least two US federal prosecutors’ offices. The AP said\u00a0the prosecutors involved were from the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan.<\/p>\n

Investigators are looking into whether Petro had met with drug traffickers and whether his campaign had solicited donations from them.<\/p>\n

Responding to the news of the investigation, Petro wrote on X: “I have never spoken to a drug trafficker in my life.”<\/p>\n

He added that he had “always” instructed his election campaign managers not to accept donations from “bankers nor drug traffickers.”<\/p>\n

Reuters news agency, however, cited someone familiar with the matter who said\u00a0that “there are not ongoing investigations that are squarely focused on \u200b[Petro].”<\/p>\n

The source told Reuters that the Colombian president’s conduct had surfaced as part of the ongoing investigations into narco-terrorism by US attorneys’\u00a0offices in New York.<\/p>\n

Petro has\u00a0repeatedly denied allegations of drug trafficking, especially after Trump called him an “illegal drug leader” and the US Treasury Department sanctioned him<\/a> in 2025,\u00a0without providing evidence for the alleged ties.<\/p>\n

\"Donald
Trump has called Petro both a ‘sick man’ and ‘terrific’ Image: Colombian Presidential Press Office\/UPI Photo\/Newscom\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strained US-Colombia relations<\/h2>\n

Tensions between the United States and Colombia have been strained in recent months over the Trump administration’s crackdown on narcotics smugglers<\/a> in Latin America.<\/p>\n

However, the Trump administration has repeatedly been at odds with the left-wing leader, who was elected in 2022. In January this year, US President Donald Trump<\/a> called Petro a “sick man,” accusing him of enabling the cocaine drug trade to the United States.<\/p>\n

Those remarks came after Petro had heavily criticized the US<\/a> for its kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n

There have been recent signs that their\u00a0relationship has been improving<\/a>. Following a sit-down meeting between the two leaders at the White House in February, Trump described his Colombian counterpart as “terrific”.<\/p>\n

Colombia is one of the world’s top producers of cocaine.<\/p>\n

The US and the Colombian government have been partners in curbing illegal drug trafficking in the country and the region for decades.<\/p>\n

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Colombia hosts talks on US drug strikes, EU cocaine crisis<\/h2>\n

Edited by: Karl Sexton<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n

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Federal prosecutors in the United States<\/a>\u00a0are investigating\u00a0Colombian<\/a> President Gustavo Petro for alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to US media reports.<\/p>\n

Petro has been designated a “priority target” by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Associated Press\u00a0news agency reported.<\/p>\n

What do we know about the investigation into\u00a0Colombia’s president?<\/h2>\n

According to the DEA’s records,\u00a0Petro has\u00a0appeared in multiple investigations dating to 2022.<\/p>\n

The <\/em>\u2060New \u2060York Times<\/em> reported Friday that Petro\u00a0is under criminal investigation by at least two US federal prosecutors’ offices. The AP said\u00a0the prosecutors involved were from the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan.<\/p>\n

Investigators are looking into whether Petro had met with drug traffickers and whether his campaign had solicited donations from them.<\/p>\n

Responding to the news of the investigation, Petro wrote on X: “I have never spoken to a drug trafficker in my life.”<\/p>\n

He added that he had “always” instructed his election campaign managers not to accept donations from “bankers nor drug traffickers.”<\/p>\n

Reuters news agency, however, cited someone familiar with the matter who said\u00a0that “there are not ongoing investigations that are squarely focused on \u200b[Petro].”<\/p>\n

The source told Reuters that the Colombian president’s conduct had surfaced as part of the ongoing investigations into narco-terrorism by US attorneys’\u00a0offices in New York.<\/p>\n

Petro has\u00a0repeatedly denied allegations of drug trafficking, especially after Trump called him an “illegal drug leader” and the US Treasury Department sanctioned him<\/a> in 2025,\u00a0without providing evidence for the alleged ties.<\/p>\n

\"Donald
Trump has called Petro both a ‘sick man’ and ‘terrific’ Image: Colombian Presidential Press Office\/UPI Photo\/Newscom\/picture alliance<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strained US-Colombia relations<\/h2>\n

Tensions between the United States and Colombia have been strained in recent months over the Trump administration’s crackdown on narcotics smugglers<\/a> in Latin America.<\/p>\n

However, the Trump administration has repeatedly been at odds with the left-wing leader, who was elected in 2022. In January this year, US President Donald Trump<\/a> called Petro a “sick man,” accusing him of enabling the cocaine drug trade to the United States.<\/p>\n

Those remarks came after Petro had heavily criticized the US<\/a> for its kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n

There have been recent signs that their\u00a0relationship has been improving<\/a>. Following a sit-down meeting between the two leaders at the White House in February, Trump described his Colombian counterpart as “terrific”.<\/p>\n

Colombia is one of the world’s top producers of cocaine.<\/p>\n

The US and the Colombian government have been partners in curbing illegal drug trafficking in the country and the region for decades.<\/p>\n

\n

Colombia hosts talks on US drug strikes, EU cocaine crisis<\/h2>\n

Edited by: Karl Sexton<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Federal prosecutors in the United States<\/a>\u00a0are investigating\u00a0Colombian<\/a> President Gustavo Petro for alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to US media reports.<\/p>\n

Petro has been designated a “priority target” by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Associated Press\u00a0news agency reported.<\/p>\n

According to the DEA’s records,\u00a0Petro has\u00a0appeared in multiple investigations dating to 2022.<\/p>\n

The <\/em>\u2060New \u2060York Times<\/em> reported Friday that Petro\u00a0is under criminal investigation by at least two US federal prosecutors’ offices. The AP said\u00a0the prosecutors involved were from the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan.<\/p>\n

Investigators are looking into whether Petro had met with drug traffickers and whether his campaign had solicited donations from them.<\/p>\n

Responding to the news of the investigation, Petro wrote on X: “I have never spoken to a drug trafficker in my life.”<\/p>\n

He added that he had “always” instructed his election campaign managers not to accept donations from “bankers nor drug traffickers.”<\/p>\n

Reuters news agency, however, cited someone familiar with the matter who said\u00a0that “there are not ongoing investigations that are squarely focused on \u200b[Petro].”<\/p>\n

The source told Reuters that the Colombian president’s conduct had surfaced as part of the ongoing investigations into narco-terrorism by US attorneys’\u00a0offices in New York.<\/p>\n

Petro has\u00a0repeatedly denied allegations of drug trafficking, especially after Trump called him an “illegal drug leader” and the US Treasury Department sanctioned him<\/a> in 2025,\u00a0without providing evidence for the alleged ties.<\/p>\n

Tensions between the United States and Colombia have been strained in recent months over the Trump administration’s crackdown on narcotics smugglers<\/a> in Latin America.<\/p>\n

However, the Trump administration has repeatedly been at odds with the left-wing leader, who was elected in 2022. In January this year, US President Donald Trump<\/a> called Petro a “sick man,” accusing him of enabling the cocaine drug trade to the United States.<\/p>\n

Those remarks came after Petro had heavily criticized the US<\/a> for its kidnapping of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.<\/p>\n

There have been recent signs that their\u00a0relationship has been improving<\/a>. Following a sit-down meeting between the two leaders at the White House in February, Trump described his Colombian counterpart as “terrific”.<\/p>\n

Colombia is one of the world’s top producers of cocaine.<\/p>\n

The US and the Colombian government have been partners in curbing illegal drug trafficking in the country and the region for decades.<\/p>\n

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video<\/a><\/p>\n

Edited by: Karl Sexton<\/em><\/p>\n

[analyse_source url=”https:\/\/www.dw.com\/en\/us-prosecutors-investigate-whether-colombian-president-petro-had-ties-to-drug-traffickers-reports\/a-76461891″]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/static.dw.com\/image\/73576027_6.jpg”] https:\/\/p.dw.com\/p\/5ApEJ Petro has consistently denied allegations of drug trafficking [July 2025]Image: Esteban Felix\/AP Photo\/picture alliance Federal prosecutors in the United States\u00a0are investigating\u00a0Colombian President Gustavo Petro for alleged ties to drug traffickers, according to US media reports. Petro has been designated a “priority target” by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Associated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,74],"class_list":["post-1837832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-dw-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1837832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1837832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1837832\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1837832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1837832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1837832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}