The US officially includes President Gustavo Petro on the Clinton List

He United States government officially included President Gustavo Petro on the call Clinton Listwhich means that His name appears in a registry of people and entities sanctioned for alleged links to drug trafficking or illicit activities..

Also added were the first lady, Verónica Alcocer, the eldest son of the head of state, Nicolás Petro Burgos; and the current Minister of the Interior, Armando Benedetti.

In his official statement, the US Treasury Department pointed out that Its decision is based on the application of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac)attached to this federal office, which acts under the regulations of sanctions against drug traffickers, money laundering and other crimes of international dimension.

According to the statement, during the Petro government, “Cocaine production in Colombia has skyrocketed to record levels” and “benefits have been granted to narcoterrorist organizations”.

“Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has skyrocketed to record levels, flooding the United States and poisoning its citizens. President Petro has allowed drug cartels to flourish and has refused to stop this activity. Today, President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate drug trafficking.“he added Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary.

It is the first time in the history of Colombia that a sitting President appears on this sanctions listwhich constitutes a fact with unprecedented political and diplomatic repercussions.

The determination comes after several weeks marked by the exchange of strong statements between Petro and the American president, Donald Trumpwho publicly pointed it out as supposed “drug trafficking leader” in Colombia.

What is the Clinton List?

The List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, created in 1995 under the government of Bill Clintonis administered by Ofac, attached to the United States Department of the Treasury.

This entity has broad powers to freeze assets, block financial operations, and restrict U.S. citizens or companies from establishing business relationships with listed individuals or groups.

“The SDN List contains individuals, groups and entities, such as terrorists and drug traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific.“, explains OFAC on its official site.

This means that when a person or entity is included on this list, their assets in the United States are blocked and US citizens or companies are generally prohibited from transacting with them.

Although the US Congress does not have the power to add names directly, can promote laws that force the Treasury to evaluate the inclusion of certain actors, or that condition the Executive to act when certain parameters are met. In practice, these types of provisions operate as a political mandate that is usually executed by OFAC.

Nevertheless, Legislative intervention is not a requirement, since both the Treasury Department and OFAC itself can make designations autonomously, without prior authorization from Congress.when they consider that there are sufficient grounds to apply sanctions.

A ‘paradox’: Petro

Obviously, the president’s reaction was immediate. It is his social networks that he described as a “paradox“and attributed to his fight against drug trafficking.

“Fighting drug trafficking for decades and effectively brings me this measure from the government of the society that we help so much to stop their cocaine consumption“, wrote Petro in X, in the midst of the escalation of tensions between Colombia and the United States over the anti-drug fight.

The president stated that finally “it was fulfilled” the “threat“made by him Republican Senator Bernie Morenoof Colombian descent. The legislator had anticipated in an interview with Fox News that Petro and his family could be included on the Treasury Department’s list of economic and commercial sanctions.

Other examples of politicians included on the list

In recent years, the United States Government has used its sanctions tools to designate politicians from different countries as people subject to a financial blockade.

One of the most recent cases corresponds to Antal Rogán, senior official of the Government of Hungary and minister in Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s cabinet. On January 7, 2025, the Treasury Department announced his designation for “involvement in corruption in Hungary” under the authority of the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows sanctions for those responsible for corruption or human rights abuses around the world.

Another case pointed out by Washington is that of Serbian politician Aleksandar Vulinsanctioned on July 11, 2023. According to the US authority, the leader abused his position to benefit economically and, at the same time, “facilitated Russia’s malign activities in the region”, contributing to an environment considered destabilizing in the Balkans.

Likewise, on July 30, 2025, the Treasury Department sanctioned the Judge of the Supreme Court of Brazil Alexandre de Moraesnoting that “used the Brazilian judiciary against political adversaries, including a former president, as well as against journalists and social media platforms”.

JUAN MARTÍN MURILLO HERRERA
Portfolio Journalist