By Zoila Palma: Colombian President Gustavo Petro struck a conciliatory tone on Wednesday after holding an hour-long phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, telling supporters that “Colombia can sleep peacefully.”
Petro had convened a demonstration in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar and initially prepared a nationalist speech critical of Trump, who has publicly threatened and insulted him several times in recent weeks, El Pais reports.
However, moments before taking the stage, Petro said the conversation with the U.S. leader prompted him to change course, emphasizing dialogue over confrontation.
Opening his address, Petro said he accepted Trump’s proposal to talk, recalling his own history as a former M-19 guerrilla who laid down arms more than three decades ago.
“For 34 years, peace has been my priority,” he said, adding that peace is achieved through dialogue. During the call, Petro said he addressed two issues central to Trump’s agenda: drug trafficking and Venezuela, stressing Colombia’s cooperation with Washington on counternarcotics efforts.
Petro said he reiterated figures he has often cited publicly, including record drug seizures and the extradition of more than 700 suspected traffickers to the United States.
He also argued that voluntary crop substitution is more effective than forced eradication using glyphosate, despite his government’s recent decision to resume aerial spraying with the controversial herbicide.
Petro suggested Trump had been misled by political opponents who portray him as aligned with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an accusation Trump has echoed by calling Petro a drug trafficker. “There is no basis for this,” Petro said.
On Venezuela, Petro acknowledged that differences remain. He told the crowd that he conveyed to Trump his belief that peace in Venezuela is inseparable from peace in Colombia, given the cross-border presence of armed groups.
Petro said he had previously discussed coordinated action against the ELN guerrilla group with Maduro and revealed that he recently spoke with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, whom he invited to Colombia. Petro said he hopes to establish a tripartite dialogue to help stabilize Venezuela.
Much of Petro’s sharpest criticism was aimed at Colombia’s domestic political right rather than Washington.
The post International News: After call with Trump, Petro strikes conciliatory tone: “Colombia can sleep peacefully” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Colombian President Gustavo Petro struck a conciliatory tone on Wednesday after holding an hour-long phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, telling supporters that “Colombia can sleep peacefully.” Petro had convened a demonstration in Bogotá’s Plaza de Bolívar and initially prepared a nationalist speech critical of Trump, who has publicly threatened and
The post International News: After call with Trump, Petro strikes conciliatory tone: “Colombia can sleep peacefully” appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.