Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived at the White House on Tuesday accompanied by the country’s ambassador to the United States, Daniel García-Peña, for his first in-person meeting with President Donald Trump, a closed-door encounter focused on security cooperation and narcotics policy after a year of strained bilateral relations.
Photographs released ahead of the meeting drew attention not only to the delegations present but also to documents carried by the Colombian side. In images taken along the presidential walkway outside the Oval Office, García-Peña was seen holding a copy of Trump: The Art of the Deal, the 1987 book written by Trump and journalist Tony Schwartz that outlines the president’s business career and negotiating approach.
In a later image from inside the Oval Office, García-Peña appeared holding a separate sheet featuring the Colombian flag and the phrase “Colombia, America’s #1 ally against narcoterrorists.” Petro, meanwhile, was photographed with papers that Colombia’s El Tiempo suggested resembled a criminal organizational chart, consistent with Colombia’s stated intention to present operational data related to organized crime and drug trafficking.
According to Colombian officials cited by the news site, the government presented information on roughly 200 anti-narcotics operations during the meeting. The issue has been a central source of tension between Washington and Bogotá, with U.S. officials arguing that cocaine production has risen under Petro’s presidency, while Petro maintains that crop-substitution programs, seizures and extraditions demonstrate active enforcement.
The meeting took place without press access and did not follow the protocol of a formal state visit. Petro entered the White House through a side entrance used for private meetings, and no military honor guard was held. Trump did not greet Petro publicly, a departure from the reception he has extended to some other foreign leaders.
The talks followed months of public disputes and sharp rhetoric between the two governments. Analysts say the decision to meet reflects an effort to stabilize relations as Colombia enters an election year and as Washington seeks to maintain cooperation with a key regional partner on security, drug trafficking and broader regional issues, including developments in Venezuela.
No joint statement was issued after the meeting. Both governments are expected to outline their assessments of the talks in the coming days.
Originally published on Latin Times
