Trump invites Colombia's Gustavo Petro to White House after tense exchange over drugs and Venezuela raid
President Trump spoke with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, invited him to the White House after rhetoric over drug trafficking and a U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Overview
Trump told reporters and posted on Truth Social that he appreciated Petro's tone and invited the Colombian president to meet at the White House "in the near future."
The call follows days of escalating tensions after a U.S. operation in Venezuela captured Nicolás Maduro and prompted Trump's sharp criticism of Petro and threats of action against Colombia.
Petro posted about the conversation on X, highlighted drug policy and regional relations, and warned previously that U.S. strikes could "awaken the jaguar" among Colombians.
Washington sanctioned Petro in October over alleged failures to curb cocaine production, while Colombia says it has taken steps against drugs and seeks broader economic and energy cooperation.
Colombia's embassy called the exchange constructive; officials described the call as a "very positive" shift in rhetoric, with arrangements underway for a formal White House visit.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the episode as evidence of Trump’s belligerence and inconsistency, leading with his abrupt tone-change and highlighting prior threats, sanctions and strikes. They emphasize inflammatory quotes, prioritize U.S. pressure and Colombian protest coverage, and arrange background context to make the reversal read as reactive rather than substantive diplomacy.
Sources (5)
FAQ
Tensions escalated after a U.S. military raid in Venezuela captured Nicolás Maduro, prompting Trump to accuse Petro of involvement in drug trafficking, threaten possible military action against Colombia, and impose financial sanctions on Petro and his family, while Petro condemned the U.S. operation and warned he would resist any U.S. attack on Colombia.
Trump called Colombia a "sick" country and Petro a leader who "likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States," suggested that a U.S. military intervention in Colombia "sounds good to me," and approved sanctions on Petro for allegedly allowing drug cartels to flourish.
Petro rejected Trump’s accusations, saying he is neither illegitimate nor a drug trafficker, insisted his assets are limited to his family home and salary, condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as aggression, and warned that if the U.S. attacked Colombia he would “take up arms” and that any strike could “awaken the jaguar” among Colombians.
Trump said on Truth Social that Petro called to explain the drug situation and other disagreements, and that he appreciated Petro’s tone and looked forward to meeting him at the White House soon, while Colombia’s embassy and Petro described the exchange as constructive and said they wanted to restore direct communications and base relations on dialogue and mutual respect.
The meeting is expected to focus on U.S. accusations that Colombia has failed to curb cocaine production, sanctions imposed on Petro and his family, disagreements over U.S. military operations in Venezuela and regional drug-interdiction strikes, and Colombia’s push to broaden relations into economic, energy, and diplomatic cooperation while restoring regular high-level communication channels.
History
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