Trump Invites Colombian President Petro to the White House Amidst Diplomatic Shifts

Post by : Mina Rahman

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump made a notable shift in his approach towards Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, announcing after a cordial phone call that he has extended an invitation for Petro to visit the White House.

In a social media post, Trump expressed, “It was a great honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. He called to address issues regarding drugs and our prior disagreements. I valued his call and tone and eagerly anticipate meeting soon.”

This announcement follows a period of tense exchanges, during which Trump criticized Petro harshly, accusing him of being connected to cocaine production, and referred to Colombia as “very sick” in discussions about U.S. military operations aimed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Trump's remarks suggested possible U.S. intervention in Colombia.

According to Petro, the two leaders discussed key issues such as Venezuela and drug trafficking during their hour-long conversation. Addressing a crowd of thousands of protesters in Bogotá, Petro stated that misleading claims from Colombian politicians linked to drug trafficking had incited Trump's earlier hostility towards him.

The inviting tone from Trump is unexpected, particularly as Petro recently condemned the U.S. operation against Maduro, labeling it an “abhorrent” infringement on Latin American sovereignty and drawing comparisons to Nazi bombings in World War II.

Historically, Colombia has been a vital ally for the United States in Latin America. Their collaboration spans decades, focusing on counter-drug trafficking efforts, combating rebel factions, and enhancing rural development. Colombia notably holds the title of the world’s largest cocaine producer.

Despite this long-standing partnership, tensions have escalated recently. Last October, the Trump administration implemented sanctions against Petro, his family, and an official in his administration over alleged connections to the global drug trade, marking a rare step of reducing U.S. aid by labeling Colombia as uncooperative in the drug war.

Trump’s efforts against drug trafficking initiated with actions against suspected drug boats from Venezuela and have since broadened to include vessels associated with Colombia.

While the backdrop features accusations and sanctions, Trump’s latest overture indicates a willingness to mend relations with Petro and Colombia.