US President Donald Trump has stated that he will meet his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro at the White House in the near future, shortly after mentioning that an operation targeting Colombia sounds good.
The US recently conducted an operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a raid in Caracas, which has raised the stakes in regional geopolitics.
According to Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, the death toll from the raid was significantly higher than reported, with over 100 fatalities, including soldiers from both Venezuela and Cuba.
Throughout a phone call with Trump, Petro shared insights regarding drug-related issues and other disagreements, earning commendation for his communication style from Trump, despite earlier sharp warnings from the President.
Colombia is a major hub for cocaine production and holds significant oil reserves, intensifying the focus of US policies in the region.
Following the operation, Trump criticized Petro, branding him as a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States, while Petro countered that any military intervention would provoke armed resistance from Colombia.
In a later message, Trump called his conversation with Petro a Great Honor, easing some of the previous tensions and confirming that plans are underway for Petro's trip to Washington.
Amid these developments, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Petro's government, citing a failure to curb drug trafficking.
In response, Petro has defended his administration's efforts against drug trafficking, asserting a commitment to combat this issue.
The backdrop of these negotiations is the volatile situation in Venezuela, where interim president Delcy Rodríguez remarked on the US's actions against Maduro as a historical low point in bilateral relations.
