President Trump held his first face-to-face meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday, marking a significant diplomatic encounter between the two leaders after months of public disagreements.
Tensions have escalated between Trump and Petro following months of verbal confrontations and the U.S. capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela last month.
The bilateral discussion was anticipated to cover critical topics including Venezuela’s border with Colombia, energy resources, and guarantees for Colombia’s upcoming presidential elections. According to four people familiar with the planning, including former Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, the meeting would address these areas alongside regional security concerns.
Trump told reporters Monday that he and Petro would discuss narcotics, stating: “Because tremendous amounts of drugs come out of his country.” He also expressed hope for a positive outcome in their meeting, noting that Petro “has been very nice over the last month or two,” adding: “He was certainly critical before that but, somehow, after the Venezuelan raid, he became very nice. He changed his attitude very much.”
Petro, a former Marxist revolutionary, has frequently clashed with Trump over Maduro’s capture, U.S. military operations targeting alleged drug traffickers in the eastern Pacific, and the deportation of Colombians from the United States. Petro described the U.S. operation as a violation of regional sovereignty and characterized it as a kidnapping. In response, Trump repeatedly criticized Petro, suggesting a U.S. military intervention in Colombia “sounds good” and labeling him a “sick man” who should “watch his a–.”
“Today I begin my agenda in Washington as Head of State, determined to continue strengthening the relationship between two nations that share a common goal: the fight against drug trafficking, from an approach that prioritizes life and peace in our territories,” Petro stated.
Petro’s government announced on Monday it would review data on its efforts to seize cocaine and discuss initiatives to help coca farmers transition to legal crops. Reports indicate that Petro presented gifts for Trump, including coffee and chocolate produced through crop-substitution programs.
The meeting could represent a dramatic shift for the two leaders, who have been close allies for decades. However, their relationship has deteriorated sharply since Trump assumed office last year. Petro quickly challenged Trump on immigration policies and later criticized his stance on Israel and Gaza, denouncing U.S. military strikes on suspected drug traffickers as “murder.” In response, U.S. officials revoked Petro’s visa and imposed sanctions on him and his family.