Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, and the POTUS is already promising the press that he hopes to find solutions to the drug trafficking that has been plaguing relations between the two nations. The meeting is somewhat unexpected, considering the year began with Petro condemning an operation in Venezuela — and Trump responding by calling him a “sick man” who should “watch his a**.”
President Petro is currently term-limited and, unlike Trump, has given his word that he will leave office at the end of his final term. Petro and Trump have had growing differences since Trump returned to power in January 2025. The Trump administration had already promised its base that it would carry out a hardline and strategic crackdown on drug trafficking.
True to that promise, the administration began targeting South American countries it initially labeled “narco-terrorists.” Colombia and Venezuela were among the primary targets. Soon after, Trump authorized aggressive military operations against Venezuelan ships. This all culminated in another surprise operation in Venezuela that ended with Nicolás Maduro being abducted from Caracas.
According to NBC, Trump claims that this was the moment his relationship with Petro changed. Trump said, “He was certainly critical before that, but somehow, after the Venezuelan raid, he became very nice. He changed his attitude very much.” Trump has long relied on strong-arming the global community to get his way, so this shift is not entirely surprising. Reportedly, however, Petro is now seeking concessions of his own from Trump.
Petro is expected to raise concerns about the Venezuela–Colombia border following the regime change in Colombia’s oil-rich neighbor. Colombia is also seeking discussions on the region’s oil and energy sector. And as Trump has recently been accused of disregarding sovereign nations’ internal political decisions, Petro is expected to push for assurances that Colombia will retain independence in its upcoming national elections.
The Colombian president has recently walked back his calls for Maduro’s release, a shift that local supporters have noticed in the nuance of his speeches. At a recent address at a hospital in his home country, Petro was openly demanding Maduro’s release and return. Barely a day later, while in Panama, Petro claimed he was not a supporter of Maduro.
Handlers for both Trump and Petro are reportedly concerned. Both leaders are brash, unpredictable, quick to anger, and — most importantly — openly dislike one another. Another Oval Office confrontation in front of cameras is the last thing either side wants. Still, Colombia’s foreign minister, Rosa Villavicencio, remains confident the meeting will go smoothly. Villavicencio told the press that her team feels “positive” heading into the talks.
Trump has currently sanctioned Petro, members of his family, and at least one member of his cabinet. He remains convinced that Petro is part of a global drug trafficking network — an accusation Petro has vowed to challenge in a U.S. court. Those tensions were temporarily set aside after Senator Rand Paul reportedly connected the two leaders on a call aimed at easing hostilities. Trump is said to have viewed the exchange positively and subsequently invited Petro to the White House.
