Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to remove him and his family from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list. Petro stated that Trump was unaware that he and his family remained on the list, which imposes asset freezes and trade restrictions. The commitment came during a phone call where the leaders discussed bilateral issues, including drug eradication and political stability.

Petro detailed the conversation on social media, noting that Trump promised to address the sanctions issue immediately. The OFAC list, commonly known as the Clinton List, targets individuals and entities involved in activities such as drug trafficking. Petro described the discussion as friendly, marking the fourth such conversation between the two leaders.

Coca-Eradication Progress

A significant portion of the call focused on Colombia’s compliance with voluntary coca-eradication commitments. According to an official statement from the Colombian government, the country met its target of eradicating nearly 30,000 hectares. The program aims to reach 41,000 hectares by the end of 2026 and is funded through Dec. 31 of this year.

Petro shared this data with Trump, describing the eradication program as a "source of pride." He requested continued U.S. support for the initiative, citing its effectiveness in combating the cocaine trade.

Sanctions and Diplomatic Thaw

The Treasury Department added Petro, his former partner Veronica Alcocer, his son Nicolas Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti to the OFAC list in October 2025. The designations cited alleged drug-trafficking activity.

The phone call signals a diplomatic shift from December, when Trump referred to Petro as a "troublemaker" and warned him to "watch it" in relation to Colombia's cocaine trade. During the recent call, Petro also sought Trump's assistance in preventing Colombia's political polarization from escalating into violence.