When President Trump announced sanctions against Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, his family, and several top officials, the media reacted like the sky was falling. But here’s the simple truth: when it comes to the global drug trade, there’s a limit to what polite diplomacy can accomplish. At some point, words have to give way to action.

Cocaine is destroying American lives. Fentanyl might dominate the headlines, but cocaine remains a silent wrecking ball, tearing through families, hollowing out communities, and fueling crime on both sides of the border. And where does much of that poison originate? Colombia, the world’s largest producer of cocaine and the nerve center of a trade that has plagued the hemisphere for decades.

Faced with that reality, President Trump did what too many politicians refuse to do: he drew a line in the sand.

The Heart of the Issue

The sanctions against President Petro and his inner circle weren’t just about political differences. They were a moral statement. The U.S. Treasury accused Petro of “allowing drug cartels to flourish,” of turning a blind eye to evil for the sake of politics.

If true, that’s not just corruption. It’s complicity.

Now, Petro claims he’s being unfairly targeted, saying his government has made record cocaine seizures. Maybe so. But even if the numbers look good on paper, the facts on the ground tell another story: coca production keeps climbing, drug lords keep profiting, and cocaine keeps streaming across borders.

At some point, excuses stop mattering. Results do.

Sovereignty Cuts Both Ways

Critics are crying foul, saying America shouldn’t interfere in another country’s affairs. Fair point. Sovereignty matters. But let’s be honest: when Colombian cocaine is ending up in American veins, it has become our affair. Sovereignty isn’t a shield for enabling wickedness.

Romans 13:4 reminds us that rulers are meant to be “a minister of God to thee for good.” If a government allows evil to thrive, it betrays that purpose. Whether in Washington or Bogotá, leaders are accountable to God for the justice they uphold or the corruption they ignore.

A Word of Caution

That said, sanctions are a serious weapon. Freezing assets, limiting trade, and hitting allies economically can hurt ordinary people far more than the powerful. We need to make sure we’re targeting the guilty, not punishing the poor.

In Proverbs 21:3, Scripture says: “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.” That means getting the facts right and acting with righteousness, not vengeance. If the U.S. is going to take this hard stance, we owe the world a clear case and transparent evidence.

We should also leave room for redemption. If President Petro can clean house, prove results, and restore integrity, then the door should be open for renewed partnership. Justice and mercy can coexist and often must.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about Colombia. It’s about the kind of moral leadership America projects to the world. Are we serious about fighting the evils that destroy lives, or do we just issue press releases and move on?

President Trump has made it clear that under his leadership, the United States won’t tolerate nations that profit from our pain. That’s a message worth sending, not in arrogance, but in strength. As the saying goes, peace is best kept when the wicked know righteousness still bites.

But let’s also remember: our fight against drugs isn’t just a political one. It’s spiritual. As Christians, we know the real enemy isn’t Petro, or cartels, or corrupt officials. It’s sin itself. And the only way to win that war is through truth, integrity, and God’s grace.

Final Thoughts

In the end, President Trump’s move against Colombia may be controversial, but it’s also courageous. It’s a reminder that America still has the moral spine to stand up to corruption.

Let’s pray that this confrontation sparks reform, not ruin. Let’s pray that Colombia’s leaders will choose righteousness. And let’s pray that both nations remember the words of Psalm 33:12: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

May that be true on both sides of the equator.