United States President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Colombian leader Gustavo Petro for a meeting at the White House, signaling a sudden thaw in relations just days after threatening military action against the South American nation.
The diplomatic overture follows an hour-long phone call between the two leaders on Wednesday, during which they discussed drug trafficking issues and other significant disagreements.
Okay News reports that the conversation marks a sharp pivot from earlier in the week, when Trump accused Petro of involvement in the cocaine trade and warned of a potential military operation similar to the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump praised Petro’s “tone” during the call and confirmed that arrangements are being made for a meeting in Washington, though no specific date has been set.
Speaking to demonstrators at Bogota’s Plaza Bolivar, Petro told supporters that re-establishing communication was essential to avoiding conflict. “If we don’t speak, there is war,” the Colombian president stated, adding that he used the call to present data on his administration’s anti-drug efforts.
Despite the volatile rhetoric exchanged recently—including US sanctions and visa revocations—the two nations continue to cooperate on defense and intelligence, with Colombia remaining a critical “Major non-NATO ally” in the region.
