Trump invites Colombia’s president to White House after threat of military strike
Invitation comes days after Trump accused Colombia’s Gustavo Petro of ‘making cocaine’ and warning of US intervention
US President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tone on Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, saying they had exchanged a friendly phone call and he had even invited the leader of the South American country to the White House.
“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump posted on his social media site. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future.”
He wrote that the upcoming meeting would take place at the White House.
That came mere days after Trump said in the wake of the US operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro over the weekend that “Colombia is very sick too” and accused Petro of “making cocaine and selling it to the United States”.
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In comments to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump added of Petro: “He’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you”. Asked whether US intervention was possible, Trump responded: “Sounds good to me”.
Petro confirmed that he had spoken with Trump for about an hour. “Without dialogue there is war,” he told demonstrators at a rally in support of his country’s sovereignty, adding that Colombia could now sleep peacefully. A source in Petro’s office told Reuters the call was “cordial” and “respectful”.