Rubio: US sanctions are not aimed at the Colombian people and economy

(Patria) - Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States does not want to harm the Colombian people and economy with sanctions imposed on President Gustavo Petro.

Washington placed Petro and his family on a blacklist on Friday, accusing him of appeasing and encouraging "narco-terrorists," Reuters reported.

Rubio, addressing reporters on his way from Israel to Qatar, said the United States has a "strong and lasting" relationship with the Colombian people and many institutions of that Latin American country, especially with the security forces.

The US military has stepped up activities in the southern Caribbean, attacking vessels in international waters that it claimed, without evidence, were transporting drugs.

US President Donald Trump this week called Petro an "illegal drug lord".

- This is not a matter of the US against Colombia - Rubio said, referring to the sanctions against Petro.

He stated that the Trump administration is reacting to a foreign leader whom it believes has become hostile.

- But we separate that from the people of Colombia. That is why we do not see customs measures. That is why we do not want to harm the Colombian economy - Rubio added.