US President Donald Trump surprised many on Wednesday.
Just days after making strong remarks against Colombia and its president, Trump changed his tone. According to a Reuters report, Trump said he had a friendly phone call with Colombian President Gustavo Petro and has now invited him to the White House.
The shift came quickly. And it caught attention.
Trump Calls the Phone Talk “Warm”
Trump shared details of the conversation on his social media account X (formerly Twitter).
He wrote that it was an honour to speak with President Petro. Trump said the two discussed the drug situation and other disagreements between the two countries. He also said he liked the tone of the call.
Trump added that he is looking forward to meeting Petro soon. He confirmed that the meeting will now take place at the White House.
A Big Change From Recent Remarks
This softer approach stands out because of what Trump had said earlier.
Only a few days ago, Trump had described Colombia as “very sick”. He also accused President Petro of being linked to cocaine production and selling drugs into the United States.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Petro would not be able to continue like this for long. When asked if the US could intervene, Trump replied that he would be “okay with it”.
Those comments had raised tensions.
Petro Confirms Long Call With Trump
Later on Wednesday, President Petro addressed thousands of supporters in Bogota.
This came during a rally organised against what Petro described as US military threats. He told the crowd that he had spoken to Trump for nearly one hour.
Petro said the discussion focused mainly on two issues. Venezuela and drug trafficking.
Petro Pushes Back on Allegations
Petro also made serious claims of his own.
He told supporters that some Colombian leaders, who he said have links to the drug trade, had given Trump false information about his record. According to Petro, this was done to turn the US president against him.
He said these people were responsible for the crisis that had developed between the two countries. He described it as diplomatic, or at least verbal, for now.
Why Trump’s Shift Is Surprising
Trump’s sudden change in tone is especially striking because of Petro’s earlier comments about US actions.
Petro had strongly criticised a US operation in Venezuela. He called it a violation of Latin American sovereignty. He also compared it to historical acts of aggression, using very harsh language.
Because of this background, Trump’s invitation has raised questions about what changed behind the scenes.
US-Colombia Relations Under Strain
Colombia has traditionally been one of the closest US allies in Latin America.
For decades, Washington and Bogota have worked together on anti-drug operations. The focus has been on arresting traffickers, fighting armed groups, and supporting development in rural areas.
But relations have worsened in recent months.
In October, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Petro, members of his family, and a government official. This was linked to allegations around the global drug trade.
Colombia is widely seen as the world’s largest cocaine producer.
US Pressure Has Been Increasing
Trump has also stepped up military pressure in the region.
He ordered dozens of strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela in the Caribbean Sea. Later, these operations were expanded to target suspected ships coming from Colombia through the eastern Pacific.
In September, the US took another major step. For the first time in nearly 30 years, Colombia was added to a list of countries seen as not fully cooperating in the war on drugs. After that, US aid to Colombia was sharply reduced.
Where Things Stand Now
Just days ago, Trump accused Petro of running cocaine factories and refusing to cooperate.
Now, there is a White House invitation.
Whether this marks a real reset in relations or just a temporary pause remains unclear. For now, the sudden shift has raised eyebrows across the region.
