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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced on Wednesday that he held a phone conversation with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, during which they discussed the situation of drug trafficking and other bilateral disagreements, and he revealed that both governments are preparing for an official meeting at the White House.
The contact occurs just days after Trump issued strong public warnings against the Colombian president for his stance on the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
"It was a great honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation regarding drugs and other disagreements we have had," Trump wrote on his official account.
The U.S. president noted that he appreciated the tone of the call and expressed his interest in meeting with Petro "in the near future."
According to the report, the preparations for the meeting are being coordinated between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Colombian chancellor, and the meeting will take place at the White House in Washington, D.C.
The announcement marks an apparent shift towards dialogue following a recent episode of heightened diplomatic tension.
Trump had publicly warned Petro that "he needs to be careful" after the Colombian government expressed its "deep concern" regarding the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that culminated in the capture of Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
In statements to U.S. media, Trump criticized the Colombian leader for questioning Washington and asserted that Petro "should be more concerned about what is happening at his border, about the crime and drug trafficking that is destroying his country."
He also insisted that Maduro “was not a legitimate president, but an armed drug trafficker,” and warned that “anyone who defends that should think twice.”
The Colombian statement that triggered the reaction from the White House was published by Petro on the social media platform X, where he expressed his rejection of "any unilateral military action" and reiterated Colombia's commitment to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
The Colombian president also ordered the deployment of security forces at the border due to a potential influx of refugees following Maduro's capture.
He also pointed out that the U.S. wants to take control of Venezuela's oil and Colombia's coal reserves, which hold the largest global reserves of that mineral.
Despite the conflicting statements, sources close to the White House indicated that the United States chose to keep diplomatic channels open.
In that context, the call between Trump and Petro and the announcement of a bilateral meeting suggest an attempt to reduce tensions and address differences through direct dialogue, amidst a regional scenario marked by the Venezuelan crisis and cooperation in security and drug trafficking.
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