U.S. government opens criminal investigation into Colombian President Gustavo Petro

Months after capturing Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro, the U.S. government has opened a criminal investigation into Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

The New York Times on Friday reported that “President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, who has had a volatile relationship with President Trump, is under criminal investigation by at least two U.S. federal prosecutors’ offices.”

Citing three sources familiar with the matter, the report stated that “The investigations, which have not been previously reported, were being conducted by the U.S. attorney’s offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and they have involved prosecutors who focus on international narcotics trafficking as well as agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.”

According to the report, the inquiries have been exploring, among other things, Mr Petro’s possible meetings with drug traffickers and whether his presidential campaign solicited donations from traffickers.

Earlier in January, U.S. forces invaded Venezuela, capturing Mr Maduro and ferrying him down to the U.S. to face charges on drug trafficking.

After Mr Maduro’s capture, Mr Trump threatened similar military action against Colombia’s president, saying repeating “such an operation sounds good to” him.

However, Mr Petro, a former rebel, vowed to take up arms in self and territorial defence of his country, following threats of invasion from Mr Trump.