Washington D.C. – A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House on Tuesday appeared to ease tensions between the two nations, despite a history of sharp public disagreements and mutual accusations. The two-hour conversation, described as “fantastic” by Trump and “very positive” by Petro, covered topics including energy, Venezuela, and collaborative efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The meeting marks a significant shift in tone after a period of escalating friction. As recently as last year, Trump referred to Petro as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” while Petro has characterized Trump as a murderer and likened him to Adolf Hitler. Despite this contentious past, both leaders publicly downplayed the previous animosity following their discussion.
Petro presented Trump with Colombian coffee, and First Lady Melania Trump received a gown crafted by Indigenous artisans. In return, Trump gifted Petro a framed portrait of the two leaders shaking hands, inscribed with the message: “I love Colombia.”
While both leaders characterized the meeting as productive, underlying political differences remain. Trump has consistently advocated for U.S. Dominance in the Western Hemisphere, a stance that contrasts with Petro’s more independent foreign policy vision. Petro, a former left-wing guerrilla, has also been critical of U.S. Actions in the region, including the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The thaw in relations follows a period of increasing strain. Colombia initially refused to allow U.S. Military flights carrying deported migrants, only relenting after Trump threatened substantial tariffs on Colombian goods. Further escalating tensions, the State Department revoked the visas of Petro and several family members after Petro delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly criticizing U.S. Support for Israel and urging American troops to disregard Trump’s orders.
Washington removed Colombia’s certification that it was adequately addressing cocaine production and halted aid – totaling over $740 million in 2023 – leading Colombia to recall its ambassador to the United States. Trump also accused Petro of failing to curb cocaine production and even of being involved in drug trafficking.
The situation reached a peak after a U.S. Military operation in Caracas resulted in the capture of Maduro. Petro condemned the action as a “kidnapping” and openly challenged Trump, stating, “Come get me. I’m waiting for you here,” in response to the possibility of a similar operation in Colombia. Trump reportedly did not dismiss the possibility of military intervention in Colombia, responding that it “sounds good to me.”
The shift towards dialogue began with a phone call on January 7, during which the two leaders agreed to meet in person. The U.S. Government subsequently granted Petro a temporary visa to facilitate his visit to the White House.
Colombian officials indicated that Petro intended to defend his administration’s record on combating drug trafficking, despite a reported increase in cocaine production within Colombia. Acting Justice Minister Andrés Idárraga Franco stated that Petro’s government has extradited more criminals to the United States than previous conservative administrations, including a recent extradition of an individual accused of drug trafficking.
Unlike typical meetings between Trump and other heads of state, reporters were not permitted into the Oval Office for questioning prior to the discussion.
Acknowledging the past disagreements, Trump stated, “You know, he and I weren’t exactly the best of friends,” but added, “But I wasn’t insulted because I’d never met him. I didn’t know him at all. And we got along very well.”
Following the meeting, Petro addressed journalists at the Colombian Embassy in Washington, raising concerns about climate change, criticizing the U.S. Operation in Venezuela, and condemning what he described as the “genocide” in Gaza. He also revealed that Trump had gifted him a red “Make America Great Again” ball cap, which he subsequently altered to read “Make Americas Great Again.”
The meeting, while not resolving fundamental disagreements, represents a notable attempt to stabilize a relationship that had deteriorated significantly in recent months. The long-term impact on U.S.-Colombia relations, and the broader geopolitical landscape of Latin America, remains to be seen.
