President Trump spoke by phone with Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday following tensions between the two leaders. cooked In recent days, Mr Trump calling Colombia a “sick man” and suggesting military action in the country “looks good to me”.
Mr Trump he said on Truth Social “He appreciated (Petro’s) call and tone,” adding that the two leaders plan to meet at the White House at some point. The US president said Petro called “to explain the drug situation and other disagreements we had”.
The Colombian embassy in the US said a statement the country “welcomes the constructive tone of the exchange” and “remains committed to open dialogue”.
Relations between the US and Colombia have been strained for months, and the Trump administration has accused the Colombian government of failing to contain the rise in cocaine production. In October of last year, Mr. Trump named Peter “Illegal drug leader” and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent He announced punishments for Petro and his familysaying that he has “let the drug cartels flourish and refused to stop this activity”.
Petro, on the other hand, has been a Sharp criticism of US military power Close to Latin America. The Trump administration denounced the strikes on suspected drug boats in September before the United Nations, and days later, at a protest in New York, he said members of the US military should “disobey Trump’s orders.” Department of State He revoked Petro’s visa in this regard, believing that his actions are “irresponsible and passionate”.
Tensions have risen over the weekend since the US military captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro overnight, Petro. denounce as an “offensive” act.
After the operation, Mr Trump lashed out at Petro, telling reporters: “Colombia is also very sick, run by a sick person who likes to make cocaine and sell it to the United States, and he won’t be doing it for much longer.”
Asked if that meant there could be a US operation in Colombia, Mr Trump said: “I think so.”
Petro — a former member of a guerrilla group and Colombia’s first left-wing leader in decades — responded forcefully early Monday morning. He He wrote in X “He swore he would never touch a weapon again,” but “I would take weapons I don’t want for my country.”