Trump promises Petro to remove him from OFAC list: «He’s a good man»

The political scenario between Bogotá and Washington has taken a surprising turn that redefines the end of Colombia’s mandate. In a recent telephone conversation, the U.S. president, Donald Trump, showed unexpected flexibility toward his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro. The New York magnate described the left-wing leader as «a good man» during an institutional conversation focused on the region’s anti-drug agenda. The surprising change in stance occurs just weeks before the Colombian head of state concludes his official term on August 7.

The telephone call formally began at 8:15 a.m. local time, according to sources from the Casa de Nariño. During the exchange of statements, the central request revolved around the administrative status of the presidential family in U.S. territory. The South American leader formally requested support from the American Executive to be removed from the list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The Treasury Department imposed this financial restriction last year following strong accusations from Washington of alleged links to drug trafficking.

In response to the diplomatic request, the Republican leader responded favorably and expressed an open attitude toward resolving the legal controversy. «I will do my best to help you,» the American dignitary assured, committing to review the case with his team of economic advisors. Colombian spokespeople emphasized that this openness reflects the effectiveness of direct dialogue previously held between both heads of state. The unexpected support aims to remedy the severe financial and visa restrictions that currently weigh on the entourage of the left-wing ruler.

What motivated the drastic change in tone between both leaders?

The friendly conversation represents a marked variation from the strong statements issued by the American leader weeks ago. In previous statements, the U.S. president had vehemently stated that he did not like the Colombian leader at all. Additionally, the White House actively celebrated Abelardo de la Espriella’s electoral victory, calling the right-winger’s triumph a strategic achievement for hemispheric stability. The origin of the disputes dated back to September last year, when Washington included Petro’s family on the feared «Clinton list.»

After concluding the call, the Colombian leader himself used his official communication channels to provide clarity about the conversation. The ruler expressed his deep bewilderment at the lack of knowledge the American leader had about the details of the local political dispute. Specifically, the magnate was unaware that the outgoing government did not support the platform of the newly elected president, Abelardo de la Espriella. Similarly, the Republican was surprised to learn that the ruler and his relatives remained under international OFAC sanctions.

President Donald Trump promised me to act directly on the issue of sanctions that affect my family nucleus.

The inclusion on the Treasury’s blacklist occurred following Washington’s accusations that the South American leader was favoring illegal drug trafficking. This financial sanction froze assets and immediately revoked American visas for the First Lady and her eldest son. The current Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, also remains affected by the strict administrative measures issued by U.S. agencies. However, eight months after the accusations, Colombian diplomacy insists that there is no judicial evidence supporting the criminal charges.

What agreements were reached on combating drug trafficking?

The bilateral dialogue was not limited exclusively to resolving the personal economic sanctions affecting the government delegation. The heads of state carefully reviewed the progress achieved in the voluntary crop substitution program for illicit use. The official report