President Arce condemns the U.S. decision to include Petro and his family on the ‘Clinton List.’

On Saturday, Bolivian President Luis Arce expressed solidarity with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who was sanctioned by U.S. President Donald Trump over alleged ties to drug trafficking.

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“We express our deep solidarity with the president of the Republic of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and his family, in light of the unilateral and unjustified decision by the United States government to include them on the so-called ‘Clinton List.’

“This unilateral coercive measure violates the principles of international law, state sovereignty and mutual respect among nations, while also undermining efforts toward integration and cooperation in our region.

“We categorically reject any attempt to destabilize democratically elected governments through arbitrary actions aimed at undermining their legitimacy and autonomy.

“We express our support for the Colombian people and their president, who has shown firm commitment in the fight against drugs and in building lasting peace with social justice.

“Let’s call things what they are: The Trump administration’s intention is to subjugate, under the abstract concepts of the so-called ‘war on drugs’ and ‘fight against organized crime,’ any government that dares to oppose the dictates of the United States in its race to regain its hegemonic status,” Arce said.

Earlier, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the inclusion of Petro, his wife, Veronica Alcocer, his son, Nicolas Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti on the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) list — known as the “Clinton List” — over alleged ties to drug trafficking. The designation freezes their assets in the United States and prohibits financial transactions with them.

“Since President Gustavo Petro came to power, cocaine production in Colombia has surged to its highest level in decades,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

Petro described his inclusion on the Clinton List as a paradoxical and arbitrary decision that reflects the oppressive nature of the Trump regime. During a rally attended by thousands of Colombians, the leftist leader said the U.S. sanctions seek to bring the Colombian government to its knees.

“Mr. Trump has no idea who I am, what I think, or the history of this country. He doesn’t even know clearly where Colombia is… No matter what they do to me, I have never let greed into my heart,” Petro said.

Economic relations and military cooperation between Colombia and the U.S. have been shaken since Trump returned to the White House, due to his migration and anti-drug policies.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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