Trump invites Colombia president to White House after threats

BOGOTA, Colombia: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday invited his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro to the White House, just days after threatening him with military action over alleged drug trafficking.

Trump had warned Petro on January 3 to “watch his ass” following US forces’ ousting of leader Nicolas Maduro in neighboring Venezuela.

On Wednesday, following the first phone call between the leaders since Trump took office in January, the 79-year-old Republican said he was arranging to meet with Petro “in the near future.”

Petro “called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future” at the White House, he added.

US forces attacked Caracas in the early hours of Saturday, bombing military targets during a shock snatch-and-grab raid to remove Maduro from power and assert Washington’s control over the oil-rich South American nation.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Sunday Trump made similar threats of military action against Venezuela’s neighbor, Colombia.

Trump accused the Colombian leader, without providing evidence, of being involved in drug trafficking and hit him and his family with financial sanctions.

When asked whether a military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: “It sounds good to me.”

Petro said Monday he was ready to “take up arms” in the face of such threats.

Colombia’s deputy foreign minister Mauricio Jaramillo told AFP in an interview on Wednesday that the US strike on Venezuela could ripple out into a “catastrophe” for the whole of Latin America.

Petro called for demonstrations across Colombia on Wednesday in defiance of Trump’s threat.

Petro told a rally of supporters he planned to attend the White House meeting, for which no date was given.

He said he had been planning to make “quite a tough” speech but softened the tone after the hour-long call with Trump.

He said he asked Trump for the two countries to “re-establish direct communications between their foreign ministries and presidents.”

Colombia and the US have a history of military and economic cooperation.