US probes touching Petro add pressure ahead of Colombia vote

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has been linked to two ongoing criminal investigations in the United States, according to reporting by The New York Times, adding a new layer of tension to an already strained relationship between Washington and Bogotá.

The investigations, led by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn and Manhattan, are focused on drug-smuggling networks in Latin America. Petro is not reported to be a direct target, but authorities are examining whether he may have had contact with traffickers or received campaign contributions tied to them during his 2022 presidential run. The details have not been independently confirmed.

Petro responded quickly, rejecting the allegations outright.

“In Colombia, there is not a single investigation into my relationship with drug traffickers, for one simple reason: I have never in my life spoken with a drug trafficker,” he wrote on X. He added that he had instructed campaign staff not to accept funding from either bankers or criminal groups.

He also framed the situation as politically driven, pointing to domestic opponents.

“So, the proceedings in the US will help me to dismantle the accusations of the Colombian far right, which is indeed closely linked to Colombian drug traffickers,” he said.

At this stage, the US investigations remain preliminary, with no charges filed. Still, their timing has drawn attention. Colombia is heading toward a presidential election on May 31, and while Petro himself cannot run again, the vote is widely seen as a verdict on his presidency and the future of his political coalition.

Analysts say the proximity to the election gives the developments added weight.

“If this would have happened a week before the first round, it would be election interference,” said Sergio Guzman of Colombia Risk Analysis. “This seems to be more of a warning that shows how the US could influence the outcome of the election.”

The backdrop is a relationship that has grown increasingly volatile since Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025. The two leaders have clashed over regional security, particularly following the US operation in Venezuela and broader disagreements over how to tackle drug trafficking.

Petro has criticised US tactics as overly aggressive, while the Trump administration has pushed for a harder line, including expanded military operations targeting narcotics routes. The issue remains central to bilateral cooperation, but also a consistent source of friction.

A recent meeting between the two sides in Washington suggested an attempt to stabilise ties. Yet even there, signals were mixed, with political concerns and security priorities intersecting in ways that remain unresolved.