Khaberni - Colombian President Gustavo Petro, on Friday, swiftly responded with "defiance" to his and his family's inclusion on the U.S. sanctions list, marking a new chapter in the tense relations between the two countries.
Petro wrote on social media, "I will not take a single step back and I will never kneel," borrowing slogans once used by Latin American revolutionaries.
The United States announced on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on Petro, who had previously been accused by Washington of "failing to counter drug trafficking,” along with his wife and son.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Biscent said in a statement, "President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and has refused to confront this activity."
Scott added that "President Donald Trump is taking strong actions to protect our nation and to assert that we will not tolerate drug trafficking into our country."
This week, the American president threatened to increase tariffs on Colombia, and announced on Wednesday the suspension of all funding provided to it.
On Thursday, the Colombian president accused the United States of carrying out "executions" based on the strikes it conducts on ships in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, which it claims are aimed at drug traffickers.
Petro also announced that he would take legal action in the United States against the American president for defamation after Trump called him a "bully."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described President Petro as "crazy," while Colombia summoned its ambassador from Washington and called for dialogue.
Relations between Washington and Bogota have seen increasing tension since Trump's return to the White House, as the United States last month canceled President Petro's visa following his participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York and his call for American soldiers to disobey Trump's orders.
Petro previously held the American president responsible for Israeli attacks in Gaza, considering him a partner in the genocide in the region.
