Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrives in Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump after a year of escalating tensions that included visa revocation, decertification as a counternarcotics partner and U.S. sanctions on Petro and several associates. The meeting follows a January U.S. operation in Venezuela that captured Nicolás Maduro and an unexpected January 7 phone call that helped ease hostilities. Petro aims to persuade Washington he is tackling drug trafficking and to seek relief from sanctions; the White House frames the encounter as an opportunity to restore cooperation and set strategic priorities.
From Confrontation to Conversation: Petro Arrives in Washington for High-Stakes Meeting With Trump
Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump - Getty Images
Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived in Washington on Monday for a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump that aims to cool a year of public recriminations, sanctions and diplomatic strain. The encounter follows an unexpected January phone call that helped ease tensions after a string of escalating incidents between the two leaders.
Context
The meeting comes at a sensitive moment. Petro hopes to convince the White House that his government has regained control in the fight against drug trafficking and to press for the removal of U.S. sanctions imposed on him. The visit also follows a rare U.S. military operation inside neighboring Venezuela on January 3, 2026, that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro — an event that reshaped regional tensions and preceded a diplomatic thaw.
Colombian soldiers near the Simon Bolivar border bridge with Venezuela after President Gustavo Petro ordered a military reinforcement to combat organized crime, August 29, 2025. - Carlos Eduardo Ramirez/Reuters
Timeline of the Dispute
Early Tensions: Tensions surfaced soon after Trump began his second term in January 2025. One of Trump’s early initiatives was a broad deportation campaign that used military aircraft to expel migrants. Petro initially blocked two deportation flights to Colombia, condemning the practice of returning migrants in restraints, but later allowed landings after Washington threatened tariffs and other measures.
Allegations and Denials: In March 2025, U.S. officials said Petro had described members of the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua as 'his friends' and portrayed them as misunderstood. Petro denied those remarks and blamed possible misinterpretation due to language barriers. Tren de Aragua has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has his US visa revoked by the United States after attending a protest outside of the United Nations urging American troops to disobey President Trump. New York, New York, on September 26, 2025. - Robyn Stevens Brody/Sipa USA
Decertification and Sanctions: In mid-September the Trump administration decertified Colombia as a counternarcotics partner, citing alleged failures to meet obligations on drug trafficking. Though decertification brings restrictions, U.S. officials said some funding to Colombia would continue. In October the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on Petro and several associates, including his wife Verónica Alcocer, his son Nicolás Petro and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti — allegations Petro has denied.
Visa Revocation and Public Fireworks: Petro’s U.S. visa was revoked in September after a speech to a pro-Palestinian crowd in which he urged American soldiers to disobey Trump; Petro later said he did not need a visa because he holds European citizenship. Public exchanges grew sharper through late 2025, with Trump calling Petro a 'thug' and suggesting stronger pressure could be applied to Colombia similar to that used against Venezuela.
Law enforcement officials move captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores toward a courthouse in Manhattan on January 5. - Adam Gray/Reuters
Turning Point: The January 3, 2026 U.S. operation in Venezuela and the subsequent capture of Nicolás Maduro altered the dynamic between Bogotá and Washington. On January 7 the two presidents held an unexpected phone call that signaled a diplomatic truce; Trump extended a White House invitation, which Petro accepted and is now acting on.
What’s At Stake
Petro wants sanctions lifted and hopes to demonstrate to U.S. officials that Colombia is effectively confronting drug production and trafficking. The U.S. wants clearer commitments and measurable results on narcotics flows and cooperation. Both sides have described the meeting as an opportunity to "restore communication and define strategic priorities." Petro’s Washington program also includes meetings with political, academic and business groups and with the Colombian diaspora.
What To Watch
- Whether the U.S. demonstrates a pathway to lift sanctions against Petro and associates.
- Any concrete commitments from Colombia on counternarcotics operations, information-sharing, or law enforcement cooperation.
- Public tone and language used by both leaders after the meeting — whether relations return to a working partnership or remain strained.
Additional reporting contributed to the original coverage. This article summarizes the key developments and likely points of negotiation as the two presidents meet in Washington.
Help us improve.
