Big problems for Colombia's president: He can no longer collect his salary, and a company even refused to fuel his plane

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is having big problems collecting his salary after being hit by US sanctions, his lawyer told AFP on Thursday.

Petro, his wife, one of his sons and his interior minister were recently added to the US Treasury's “blacklist” by US President Donald Trump.

The White House accuses Petro of failing to fight drug trafficking.

The sanctions froze their assets in the United States and prohibited them from doing business with firms with US ties.

“Their credit cards and bank accounts were frozen,” said Daniel Kovalik, Petro's lawyer.

“Even the payment of salaries, from the position of civil servants, is now difficult”, stated the defender.

A fuel company affiliated with the United States also refused to refuel the presidential plane in Spain, the lawyer added.

Petro's monthly salary has not been publicly disclosed.

Kovalik suggested that negotiations could resolve the situation.

“You present a case and oftentimes it gets resolved through negotiations or diplomacy,” he said.

“This can be done through intermediaries. We are working on it,” the defender added.

Kovalik has announced that he plans to challenge the US sanctions in US courts and before the Treasury Department.

“Whichever path is chosen, it will be a very long and drawn-out process,” the lawyer said.

“A Colombian court, maybe an international body, could deal with it,” but “let's be realistic: the U.S. doesn't answer to anyone,” the defense attorney added

Kovalik insisted Petro was innocent.

“I believe the truth will set us free,” he said. “I have known Petro for 20 years and know that he has fought against drug cartels throughout his political career,” the lawyer added.

He believes Petro was punished for opposing US foreign policy.

“I think (US President Donald Trump) is trying to attack anyone who opposes US foreign policy goals,” Kovalik said.

“And he (Gustavo Petro, no) is being punished. It's a message for all leaders: line up or you will be punished,” the lawyer also claimed.

Kovalik also warned that any company or government that collaborates with Petro risks being placed under the empire of sanctions.

The lawyer said he met Petro in the 2000s, during one of the bloodiest periods of Colombia's conflict, when they both denounced links between the army and paramilitary groups.

“That brought us closer,” Kovalik said.