Normalcy Restored: Trump Holds Meeting with Colombia’s Leader
Tensions had escalated last year when Washington canceled Petro’s visa following his condemnation of US strikes on suspected cartel vessels in the Caribbean, which he described as “barbaric.” He also argued that the removal of Colombian citizens by US immigration authorities breached human rights standards. Trump responded at the time by branding Petro a “drug-trafficking leader.” Despite that acrimony, both leaders signaled a softer approach ahead of Petro’s visit to Washington.
“He and I weren’t exactly the best of friends, but I wasn’t insulted because I never met him. I didn’t know him at all. And we got along very well,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He said their discussions touched on sanctions and joint efforts to counter drug cartels, though he offered no further details.
Petro characterized the meeting as “very positive” in spite of their contrasting views. “We may be very different from a civilizational or historical point of view, but what we share is a love of freedom. And that’s where the conversation began, with the idea that a pact for freedom could be made,” he said, according to reports.
Colombia’s presidential office stated that Petro shared “information and names of criminal structures” connected to the narcotics trade and portrayed Colombia as “a strategic ally” in the campaign against cartels. He also highlighted the “historic results” achieved by his administration in confiscating drugs from organized crime groups.
According to his office, Petro—who had earlier criticized the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US commandos in early January—also encouraged Trump to move toward restoring relations with Caracas.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, entered not guilty pleas to drug trafficking charges when they appeared before a New York judge last month.
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