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Trump and Colombia's president meet at the White House to address tensions
Summary
President Donald Trump is hosting Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House after months of diplomatic strain; officials say the leaders will discuss drug trafficking and bilateral trade.
Content
President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House. The meeting follows months of diplomatic strain marked by sharp public criticism and policy disputes. Officials say the agenda will include drug trafficking, bilateral trade, and coordination on security threats. The visit follows a phone call in early January that eased tensions between the two leaders.
Known details:
- The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and is described by officials as focused on drug trafficking and trade.
- Officials and reporting say the two leaders exchanged harsh public criticism in the past and that the United States imposed sanctions and withheld some aid.
- Colombian authorities have highlighted record seizures and a shift in anti-drug policy toward interdiction and alternatives to eradication, while United Nations research has reported an increase in potential cocaine production during the Petro administration.
- The Colombian Foreign Ministry announced that repatriation flights from the United States have resumed, which officials present as a sign of thawing relations.
Summary:
The White House meeting will test whether the two governments can restore pragmatic, routine cooperation on shared security and economic issues. Officials say the primary topics are drug trafficking, trade, and coordination against armed groups. The next procedural step is the leaders' meeting itself on Tuesday; outcomes are undetermined at this time.
