US President Donald Trump invites Colombia’s Gustavo Petro for talks, days after threatening military action over alleged drug trafficking.
BOGOTÁ: US President Donald Trump has invited his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro to the White House for a meeting.
The invitation comes just days after Trump threatened Petro with potential military action over alleged drug trafficking.
Trump issued the warning following the US military operation that ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
On Wednesday, following their first phone call since Trump took office, the US president said he was arranging to meet with Petro “in the near future.”
Petro “called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
“I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future” at the White House, he added.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump had previously suggested military intervention in Colombia “sounds good to me.”
He also accused the Colombian leader of drug trafficking and imposed financial sanctions on him and his family.
Petro said on Monday he was ready to “take up arms” in response to the threats.
Colombia’s deputy foreign minister Mauricio Jaramillo warned the US strike on Venezuela could create a “catastrophe” for Latin America.
Petro called for nationwide demonstrations on Wednesday in defiance of Trump’s threat.
Addressing a rally, Petro confirmed he planned to attend the White House meeting, for which no date was set.
He said he had prepared a “quite a tough” speech but softened his tone after the hour-long call with Trump.
Petro said he asked Trump to “re-establish direct communications between their foreign ministries and presidents.”
Colombia and the US have a long history of military and economic cooperation.
