Colombian president's plane unable to refuel due to US sanctions

During a flight to Saudi Arabia, the Boeing 737-700 carrying Colombian President Gustavo Petro made a technical stop at Madrid’s Barajas Airport for refueling.

However, all local fuel companies refused to service the aircraft, reportedly fearing potential US sanctions imposed on Petro for alleged links to drug trafficking. As a result, the presidential delegation was forced to seek alternative refueling options.

According to Spanish media citing government sources, the situation was resolved after Spanish authorities intervened and transferred the plane to a military airbase, where it was finally refueled. Colombian officials condemned the incident as "unacceptable" and said it endangered the delegation’s safety.

US sanctions against Gustavo Petro

Last week, President Petro was added to the US Treasury’s OFAC list, which designates individuals accused of ties to drug trafficking. Washington holds him responsible for the surge in cocaine production in Colombia, an allegation Petro firmly denies.

Those sanctioned alongside him include his wife, Verónica Alcocer, son Nicolás Petro Burgos, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti. The Colombian government condemned the designations as an "offensive act that undermines national honor and dignity."

Petro's criticism of Trump and US

In late September, the United States revoked Petro's visa following his participation in protests in New York, where he urged US troops to disobey orders from Donald Trump.

Earlier, during his UN General Assembly speech, Petro sharply criticized Washington’s policies, declaring the war on drugs a failure, calling for an investigation into Trump’s Caribbean operations, and condemning US support for Israel’s offensive in Palestine.