Trump and Colombia’s Petro meet at White House amid diplomatic thaw
Leaders with a history of public hostility hold rare talks on drug trafficking and regional cooperation, signaling a cautious reset in bilateral ties
WASHINGTON (MNTV) — U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House today in a significant diplomatic encounter intended to ease recent tensions and explore cooperation on shared challenges, including drug trafficking and regional security.
The meeting, held behind closed doors in the Oval Office and lasting roughly two hours, marked the first face‑to‑face talks between the two leaders after months of sharply divergent rhetoric, sanctions and public criticism.
Trump had previously accused Petro of failing to curb cocaine production and at times used inflammatory language, while Colombia’s leader condemned U.S. military actions in the region and criticized Washington’s policies.
Trump was accompanied by senior U.S. officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Petro arrived at the White House in a low‑profile manner, with official photos released showing the leaders shaking hands in the West Wing colonnade before entering the Oval Office.
Colombian officials emphasized that the agenda focused on strengthening cooperation against illicit drug trafficking — a core component of bilateral relations — and on restoring trust between Bogotá and Washington after Colombia was previously placed on a U.S. list of nations deemed non‑cooperative in counternarcotics efforts.
Both sides also reviewed ongoing security challenges and sought common ground on economic and regional issues.
Petro, a former guerrilla‑turned‑president, used social media prior to the meeting to underscore his commitment to fighting drug trafficking “from an approach that prioritizes life and peace” and to strengthening ties between the two nations.
Colombia also took conciliatory steps ahead of the summit, including extraditing an accused drug lord to the United States and resuming deportation flights that had previously been halted amid bilateral friction.
Despite the long history of cooperation between the U.S. and Colombia — traditionally Washington’s closest partner in Latin America on security and counternarcotics — recent years saw relations fray over policy differences on anti‑drug strategies, Venezuela, asylum and migration issues. Analysts described today’s talks as a pragmatic step toward recalibrating ties and avoiding further escalation.
No joint press conference followed the meeting, and both sides have so far released limited public statements. The confidential nature of the talks reflects Petro’s request to keep media access restricted, underscoring the sensitive context of the reset in relations between capitals.
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