Colombian President Petro seeks to bolster US ties ahead of White House meeting with Trump

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed determination to reinforce bilateral ties with the United States on Tuesday as he prepared for a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. In a post on social media platform X, Petro stated he aims to continue strengthening the relationship “between two nations that share a common goal: the fight against drug trafficking, from an approach that prioritizes life and peace in our territories.”

Context of Strained Relations

The meeting takes place amid periodically tense relations between Washington and Bogotá. Trump has repeatedly accused Petro of running a “narco state,” while Petro has criticized Trump’s policies in Latin America as neocolonial. Last week, during a speech in Panama, Petro urged Latin American countries to unite and indirectly cautioned against U.S. intervention, saying, “We do not want Caracas or any country in the Americas to be targeted with missiles, neither from the north nor from the south.” He called for the region to see itself as “a Latin American and Caribbean civilization—diverse, extremely different, yet interconnected.”

Focus of the Talks

The discussions are expected to address security cooperation, drug trafficking, and regional stability, with both leaders seeking to manage differences while advancing shared interests.