US probes loom over Petro as Colombia heads to presidential vote
Two US probes in Brooklyn and Manhattan reportedly examine whether Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro met with drug traffickers or solicited donations for his 2022 campaign. Petro denies any ties and says he never spoke to drug traffickers; prosecutors have not charged him and the investigations are in early stages. The reports, released ahead of Colombia’s May 31 presidential election, highlight the ongoing tension between the US and Colombia over narcotics and influence in regional politics.