In a diplomatic pivot that has left many in Washington and Bogotá stunned, President Donald Trump is hosting Colombian President Gustavo Petro today, February 3, 2026. This sit-down marks a jarring departure from months of escalating insults and aggressive rhetoric between the two leaders.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Context of the Conflict
Just weeks ago, the relationship appeared to be in total freefall. The friction was fueled by two primary issues:
- The Maduro Ouster: Petro slammed the recent U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro as a “kidnapping,” sparking a furious response from the White House.
- The Rhetoric: Trump publicly labeled Petro a “sick man” and a leader of “cocaine mills,” even hinting at potential military intervention in Colombia. Petro retaliated by calling Trump a “racist” and “authoritarian.”
Why the sudden handshake?
The High-Stakes Negotiation
The meeting is less about a personal friendship and more about cold, hard leverage. Here is what is on the table:
- Drug Policy: Trump is demanding a return to aerial fumigation of coca crops, a practice Petro has long resisted on environmental and human rights grounds.
- Migration: Petro has recently offered an “olive branch” by agreeing to resume deportation flights for migrants, a key win for the Trump administration’s border policy.
- The “China Factor”: The U.S. is pressuring Colombia to distance itself from Beijing, as Chinese influence in South America remains a major point of contention for Washington.
The Bottom Line
For Trump, this is a chance to show he can “tame” regional rivals through a mix of pressure and personality. For Petro, the stakes are financial; he is desperate to unlock millions in U.S. aid that were frozen during the height of their feud.
