Washington, United States. US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro met at the White House on Tuesday for their first in-person talks, a meeting widely viewed as a test of whether they can reach a lasting detente despite clashing ideologies.
Petro left the White House shortly after 1 p.m. local time (6 p.m. GMT) after spending about two hours at the executive mansion.
Closed-door Oval Office meeting
The meeting was held in private with no press in the room. A White House-released image showed Trump and Petro seated in the Oval Office, with Trump wearing what was described as a serious expression. Vice President JD Vance was also present.
A pamphlet held by one of Petro’s aides read: “COLOMBIA: America’s Ally against Narcoterrorists.”
Recent tensions and public remarks
Trump, who has voiced a desire for American dominance over Latin America, has had an up-and-down relationship with Petro, a former anti-imperialist guerrilla elected Colombia’s president in 2022.
In October, Trump called Petro an “illegal drug leader” without providing evidence. In January, Trump raised the possibility of military action against Colombia, a longtime ally he has accused of failing to control the narcotics trade.
Petro has criticized Trump, saying the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats amount to war crimes, and describing a US operation last month that deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as a “kidnapping.”
Phone call and expectations for talks
In January, the two leaders held a phone call that both described positively, a development that led to Petro’s invitation to Washington. Trump told reporters on Monday that Petro’s tone had changed recently, suggesting he had become more acquiescent after the Maduro raid.
“We’re gonna have a good meeting,” Trump said.
Unpredictability as a shared trait
The meeting took place amid assessments that both leaders behave unpredictably, speak elliptically, and change opinions quickly.
What do you think the Trump-Petro meeting could mean for future US-Colombia relations?
