Trump and Petro hold White House talks

U.S. President Donald Trump has met with Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House following weeks of tensions between the two leaders over drug trafficking and U.S. military actions in the region.

The meeting comes after a public dispute that saw the US revoke Petro’s visa last year. Petro had criticised US strikes on suspected cartel-operated boats in the Caribbean as “barbaric” and raised concerns about the treatment of Colombian nationals during deportations by US immigration authorities. Trump responded by labelling Petro a “drug-trafficking leader.”

Despite the earlier rhetoric, both leaders struck a more conciliatory tone during their talks. Trump told reporters the pair discussed sanctions and cooperation against drug cartels, saying they “got along very well” despite not previously knowing each other.

Petro described the meeting as “very positive,” saying that while the two leaders may differ historically and politically, they share a commitment to freedom. He said discussions centred on the possibility of building a cooperative framework based on those shared values.

According to the Colombian presidential office, Petro provided US officials with intelligence including names and information on criminal groups linked to the drug trade. He also presented Colombia as a key strategic partner in efforts to disrupt cartel operations and highlighted what his government described as historic levels of drug seizures.

Petro also used the meeting to urge the United States to consider normalising relations with Venezuela. His comments follow the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by US forces, after which Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges in a New York court.