Trump and Colombia’s Petro Hold Abrupt Call, Shift Tone

President Trump and Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro spoke by phone in an abrupt, 55-minute conversation that both leaders described as cordial — Mr. Trump called it a "Great Honor" and Mr. Petro called it "Historic," Mr. Petro said in an interview in Bogotá. The call marked a break from months of mutual attacks on social media and followed comments by Mr.

Trump that were interpreted as threats of military action; Mr. Trump had recently called Mr. Petro a "sick man" and, when asked about possible military action against Colombia, said it "sounds good," according to the interview. Colombian officials took those comments seriously and some in Mr.

Petro’s government scrambled to defuse the situation. Mr. Petro said he spoke for most of the call, allowing Mr. Trump to speak in the last 15 minutes, that no demands or concrete proposals were made and that Mr. Trump wanted to focus on narco-trafficking. He said officials including Vice President J.D.

Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were in the room, and he reiterated he would not conceal his views — including criticism of U.S. immigration agents and of support for fossil fuels — when he visits the White House. Colombia’s ambassador to the United States and Senator Rand Paul helped arrange the conversation, Mr.

Key Topics

World, Gustavo Petro, Donald Trump, Colombia, Narco-trafficking, Eln