The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has made official the date of his next meeting with the president of the United States, Donald Trump. At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Petro confirmed that he will travel to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 3, to hold a meeting at the White House with his U.S. counterpart.
The meeting comes as a gesture to ease tensions after a period of strain and disagreements that have pushed bilateral relations to their most fragile point in decades. According to the Colombian president himself, the meeting will be “decisive” for relations between the two countries, and its outcome will have implications for sensitive issues for both Bogota and Washington.
The confirmation of the date keeps attention focused on Colombia’s international relations and sets the stage for an agenda that will have to address complex issues of mutual interest, above all, the differences in anti-drug policy between the two governments. The meeting was agreed upon after a substantive phone call between the two leaders, the first since Trump once again assumed the presidency, and one that helped ease the public tensions that had marked recent months between Colombia and the United States.
Petro was cautious when speaking about what he expects from the meeting, while underscoring the importance of moving beyond the cycle of harsh statements that has characterized the relationship in the recent period.
Colombia’s Petro sets date for Trump meeting in the US
Relations between Colombia and the United States have gone through an unusual period for two countries that have historically been key allies in Latin America. Throughout 2025 and part of 2026, bilateral diplomacy was affected by a series of clashes that combined public statements, pressure measures, and sensitive differences over security and drug policies.
Trump himself, on several occasions, used a confrontational tone toward Petro and his government, including accusations and warnings that strained traditional diplomatic channels. Domestically in Colombia, these stances prompted strong reactions from the executive branch, which viewed some of the remarks as inappropriate between allied countries.
One of the most evident sources of tension was related to the fight against drugs, an issue that has traditionally been a point of cooperation between Bogota and Washington. Despite this, mutual criticism over approaches, responsibilities, and results generated unease.
Cocaine production in Colombia, as well as strategies to combat drug trafficking, became points of friction. Trump’s harsh statements, which went so far as to question Colombia’s commitment to the fight against drugs, including remarks labeling the Colombian president a “narco leader,” and Petro’s rejection of those criticisms, contributed to a climate of distrust.
The diplomatic tone was further complicated by other geopolitical elements in the region, especially the situation in Venezuela and recent actions by the United States in that country.
The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by forces linked to Washington and the associated military operations prompted a critical response from Bogota, which defended regional sovereignty and expressed concern over the implications of such interventions. These regional tensions, while not focused exclusively on relations between Colombia and the United States, shaped the overall climate of bilateral dialogue.
Petro’s call to maintain direct talks with Trump and his willingness to meet at the White House reflect a pragmatic recognition that, despite the disagreements, there are shared interests that require coordination. Border security, drug trafficking, and regional stability are priorities for both governments, even if their approaches and priorities may differ.
In this context, the meeting scheduled for Feb. 3 represents more than a simple protocol encounter: It is an opportunity to redefine the course of a relationship that has oscillated between strategic cooperation and open tension.
“A meeting is scheduled for Feb. 3, and we will see the results of that meeting, which will be decisive. My intention is that Colombians, wherever they may be and whatever country they may be in, do not suffer and can live in peace,” said Petro in a message in which the president emphasized that the most important point of his meeting with Trump will revolve around anti-drug policies.
Expectations and challenges of the Washington meeting
For Colombia, the meeting with Trump is a test of its diplomacy’s ability to steer a key relationship back on course, not only in political terms but also economically and in security matters. Petro has indicated that in Washington, the aim will be to secure concrete commitments in the fight against drug trafficking, a challenge that both governments consider a priority, albeit with different approaches.
Cooperation in this area, for decades a pillar of Colombia’s foreign policy toward the United States, has been forced to rethink itself in light of recent tensions.
From the U.S. perspective, the meeting represents an opportunity to reaffirm commitments in the region and to address differences with Bogota directly and personally in an election year in Colombia.
The White House has indicated that there is interest in keeping channels of communication with Colombia open and constructive, even as disagreements persist over methods and priorities. In that sense, the face-to-face dialogue between Trump and Petro will seek not only to calm the waters of a growing diplomatic conflict but also to establish clear foundations for future cooperation on issues of security, migration, and economic development.
The countdown to Feb. 3 has begun, and both governments appear aware that the expectations generated by this meeting go beyond the symbolic. The outcome of this meeting could set a precedent for how Colombia and the United States negotiate their differences and collaborate in the face of deep regional challenges, from border security to power dynamics in Latin America.