Donald Trump–Gustavo Petro Meeting (February 3, 2026)

On 3 February 2026, President of the United States of America Donald Trump and President of Colombia Gustavo Petro met at the White House. The meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders at the White House and was held behind closed doors; official statements and photographs were shared via social media platforms.

This meeting took place following previous statements and diplomatic tensions between Trump and Petro. Both leaders stated after the meeting that it had proceeded in a positive atmosphere and affirmed their shared commitment to cooperate in combating drug trafficking.

The public was informed that the meeting lasted two hours and that both leaders emphasized their firm resolve against drug trafficking.

Political Context

At the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, US–Colombia relations were shaped by issues of Trump, drug trafficking, economic sanctions, and diplomatic tensions. During this period, public exchanges between President Petro and Trump included sharp statements and accusations; Trump criticized Petro over Colombia’s drug production.

Following these remarks, the Trump administration continued its allegations against Colombia, while Petro responded with rebuttals. These dynamics created the conditions for the White House meeting to be seen as both a notable and diplomatically significant development.

The political context of the meeting reflected the easing of verbal tensions and the renewed activation of dialogue mechanisms between the two countries. Both Trump and Petro used positive language after the meeting to emphasize that sustained collective engagement was feasible.

Drug Trafficking and Cooperation

One of the main focuses of the meeting was combating drug trafficking. Trump stated that the two sides had reached agreement on this issue and pledged to continue working together.

Petro emphasized the need to enhance coordination between the two countries in the fight against drug trafficking, and both leaders stressed the importance of unwavering determination against drug trafficking.

Drug trafficking was one of the key topics discussed at both policy and operational levels during the meeting, signaling the reactivation of communication channels between the two nations.

Diplomacy and Communication

The meeting was held behind closed doors with no official press conference. However, photographs were published on social media by the White House and the Colombian government. These images showed Trump and Petro shaking hands and shared materials related to the meeting.

Petro stated after the meeting that it had taken place in a positive atmosphere, while Trump noted that the two sides had worked together on numerous issues. Public statements highlighted mutual expressions of respect between the two leaders.

Although this diplomatic engagement occurred behind closed doors, it served as an important example of the continuation of dialogue and coordination mechanisms between the two countries.

Economic and Sanctions Dimension

In his remarks following the meeting, Trump stated that the two countries were working together on multiple issues including sanctions. He particularly emphasized that both sides would continue cooperating in combating drug trafficking and international crime.

This statement indicated that the White House meeting also addressed the economic and sanctions dimensions of policy. Sanctions emerged as one of the central themes in the broader effort to restructure bilateral relations.