Colombian President Gustavo Petro and US President Donald Trump appeared to bury the hatchet on Tuesday after a 12 months of sparring that culminated in threats by Trump to topple the left-wing chief as he did in Venezuela.
“My impression of the assembly just a few hours in the past is at the beginning that it was optimistic,” Petro informed reporters after assembly Trump on the White Home behind closed doorways.
Trump mentioned he “bought alongside very nicely” with the chief whom he not too long ago accused of pumping cocaine into america and had warned to “watch his ass” after the autumn of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.
“He and I weren’t precisely the very best of buddies, however I wasn’t insulted as a result of I by no means met him. I didn’t know him in any respect, and we bought alongside very nicely,” Trump mentioned on the White Home hours after the talks ended.
Trump mentioned the 2 nations have been “engaged on” anti-drug trafficking cooperation, in addition to on lifting US sanctions the Republican had imposed on the South American nation.
Fears in Bogota that Petro might be subjected to one in all Trump’s famously fiery televised Oval Workplace confrontations have been dispelled when reporters have been saved out.
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As a substitute, it was Petro and his workplace who posted a collection of images of the assembly.
“You might be nice,” Trump wrote to Petro as he signed a replica of his 1987 e book Artwork of the Deal, in line with the pictures.
Regardless of being worlds aside politically, the Colombian returned reward for the 79-year-old US chief.
“The reality is I like simple Individuals, individuals who say what they really feel. We’re completely different, undoubtedly, by loads. However frankness comes first,” he mentioned.
The 2 leaders reclined in gold chairs within the Oval Workplace as they talked, accompanied by US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and senior Colombian officers, in line with pictures launched by Petro’s workplace.
Additionally they shared a heat handshake within the West Wing colonnade, subsequent to portraits of former US presidents that Trump not too long ago put in, together with unflattering biographies of a few of his latest predecessors.
Petro additionally mentioned after the assembly that Trump had agreed to mediate Colombia’s commerce conflict with Ecuador.
The South American neighbours have imposed import tariffs of 30 per cent on each other in a dispute over easy methods to deal with drug trafficking – additionally a significant political situation for Trump.
‘Widespread aim’
It was a far cry from the earlier harsh rhetoric between a pair who come from absolute reverse ends of the political spectrum.
The Colombian had repeatedly defended Venezuela’s chief Nicolas Maduro, a fellow left-winger, earlier than his seize by US forces on January 3. He additionally criticised lethal US air strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats.
Trump, in the meantime, has been urgent Colombia to crack down on drug trafficking, threatening navy strikes on its territory as he had in opposition to each Venezuela and Mexico.
After the Maduro raid, an emboldened Trump stepped up his barbs, saying a Venezuela-style motion in opposition to Petro “sounds good to me”.
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However issues turned a nook after an unexpectedly heat telephone name on January 7.
“I imply, he’s been very good during the last month or two,” Trump mentioned on Monday on the eve of the go to. “He was definitely crucial earlier than that, however someway, after the Venezuelan raid, he grew to become very good.”
Petro mentioned on X shortly earlier than the assembly that throughout the talks he was “decided to proceed strengthening the connection between two nations that share a typical aim: the struggle in opposition to drug trafficking”.
In an obvious reference to strikes on drug boats within the Caribbean and Pacific which have killed greater than 100 individuals, he added that he wished to take action “from an method that prioritises life and peace in our territories”.
In an olive department to Trump hours earlier than their talks, Petro extradited an accused drug lord to america after a months-long suspension of such transfers.
Colombia additionally abruptly agreed on Friday to just accept US deportation flights – reversing the very choice that triggered the falling-out between Trump and Petro final 12 months.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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