Trump seeks deal with antagonist Gustavo Petro as relations thaw

Donald Trump is seeking common ground with one of his main ideological foes in the Americas, Colombian leader Gustavo Petro, days after calling him a “sick” cocaine trafficker, and threatening military strikes on his country.

In a call on Wednesday, Trump said they discussed counter-narcotics policy and other areas of dispute, and also agreed to a face-to-face encounter at the White House in the near future. Petro said they also talked about Venezuela.

The call took place after Petro had called on Colombians to take to the streets to protest against Trump’s threats. Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, one of Petro’s closest aides, said he had feared the call would provoke another flare-up between the two leaders.

“I was worried about it because each of them has a very strong personality and any misunderstanding could have ended badly,” Benedetti said, in an interview with Blu Radio. “But from the very first second, the call was very cordial and there was mutual respect.”

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‘Nazi-style’

Colombia has historically been one of Washington’s closest allies, but the relationship between Trump and Petro quickly soured, and the pair have repeatedly traded insults over the last year.

Trump called Petro an “illegal drug leader” and said he would cut off all aid. Petro, meanwhile, attacked Trump’s climate agenda as “anti-humanity” and his migration policies as “Nazi-style.”

In September, the US canceled Petro’s visa after he called on troops to disobey Trump’s orders. Washington also sanctioned Petro and members of his inner circle personally, for allegedly enabling drug trafficking. It also “decertified” the Andean nation as a partner in the war on drugs.

The call took place days after Trump warned that the US could intervene military in Colombia following the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Rand Paul, a Republican Senator for Kentucky, was key in brokering the conversation, according to Colombia’s US Ambassador Daniel García-Peña. Colombia expects tensions with the US to ease and cooperation on drug trafficking to strengthen following the call, García-Peña said Wednesday, in a phone interview.

During a speech after the call, Petro told supporters that members of the Colombian opposition had created hostility toward his government in Washington.

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• Courtney Subramanian and Katherine Pennacchio contributed.