U.S. and Colombia Hold Talks to Ease Rift After Trump’s Accusations and Aid Cut

Overview

• Colombian President Gustavo Petro met Monday with U.S. chargé d’affaires John McNamara and Colombia’s ambassador Daniel García-Peña in a session the foreign ministry described as long, frank and constructive.
• McNamara told Colombian officials that any decision on higher tariffs rests solely with President Donald Trump, according to Bogotá’s statement.
• Trump labeled Petro a leader of drug trafficking, announced a halt to U.S. financial assistance and warned the United States would shut down drug cultivation sites if Colombia did not act.
• Colombia recalled its ambassador for consultations as Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said Washington’s posture amounted to a threat of military invasion.
• The talks follow an expanded U.S. counter-narcotics campaign in the Caribbean that includes the sinking of seven vessels with 32 deaths and confirmed CIA actions targeting Venezuela, drawing legal and human-rights criticisms after Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago said their citizens were killed.