Petro and Trump set to meet after months of tension: Video
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has confirmed he will meet US President Donald Trump in early February, marking a significant step towards easing months of strained relations between the two governments.
Speaking to his cabinet in Bogotá, Petro said the meeting, scheduled for 3 February, would be “decisive” amid an increasingly heated bilateral debate.
Petro said renewed communication between the two sides has created space for Washington to better understand Colombia’s approach to tackling drug trafficking. He argued that dialogue now allows US authorities to grasp the scope of his government’s anti-narcotics strategy, which he described as broader than traditional enforcement-led policies.
Relations between the two leaders deteriorated sharply in early 2026 following a series of public exchanges. Trump described Colombia as a “sick country” and suggested military intervention to combat drug trafficking, comments that Petro rejected by calling for national mobilisation and warning that Colombia would defend its sovereignty. Ties began to stabilise after a phone call on 7 January, paving the way for Petro’s upcoming visit to the White House.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
