BOGOTÁ (Realist English). Colombian President Gustavo Petro has been named in two separate criminal investigations led by US prosecutors, according to a report by The New York Times, which cited sources familiar with the proceedings.
The investigations, led by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan, are focused on drug-smuggling networks in Latin America. Petro has not been charged with any crime and is not identified as a formal target, according to the report.
Key facts
According to the New York Times, investigators are examining whether Petro had contact with drug traffickers and whether his 2022 presidential campaign received illicit donations.
The report has not been independently verified by other outlets, and US authorities have not publicly confirmed the details of the investigations.
Petro denied the allegations in a statement on social media, saying he had never interacted with drug traffickers.
“In Colombia, there is not a single investigation into my relationship with drug traffickers… I have never in my life spoken with a drug trafficker,” he wrote.
He added that campaign officials had been instructed not to accept funding from illegal sources.
Political context
The developments come ahead of Colombia’s presidential election scheduled for May 31, widely seen as a referendum on Petro’s administration.
Petro, the country’s first left-wing president, is constitutionally limited to a single term, but his political coalition, the Historic Pact, remains a leading force. Its candidate, Ivan Cepeda, is currently ahead in polling.
Analysts say the timing of the report could influence the political environment, though there is no indication of formal charges.
“If this would have happened a week before the first round, it would be election interference,” said Sergio Guzman, director of Colombia Risk Analysis, speaking to Al Jazeera. “This seems to be more of a warning.”
US-Colombia relations
The report risks straining already tense relations between Petro and US President Donald Trump.
The two leaders have disagreed over counter-narcotics policy, with the Trump administration criticising Colombia’s approach as insufficiently forceful, while Petro has opposed US military tactics in the region.
Recent US operations targeting suspected drug trafficking networks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific have also drawn criticism from Colombian officials.
Regional implications
The investigations come amid broader US pressure on Latin American governments over drug trafficking and security cooperation.
Analysts note that recent US actions in the region, including high-profile operations against alleged criminal networks, have heightened concerns among regional leaders about sovereignty and legal exposure.
Why it matters
Although Petro has not been charged, the existence of US investigations could affect Colombia’s political landscape and bilateral relations with Washington.
The case also underscores the intersection of domestic politics and international law enforcement in Latin America, particularly in countries central to global drug supply chains.