President Donald Trump plans to host Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House in early February to tackle drug trafficking, following their first phone call that eased recent tensions. Trump had criticized Petro's drug policies harshly, even suggesting 'Operation Colombia,' but Petro described the 55-minute talk positively, noting Trump's pragmatism and shared frustrations over misinformation. The meeting builds on steady U.S.-Colombia anti-drug partnerships amid cartel violence, with Trump praising Colombians and quipping about ties through Secretary Rubio's wife. Supporters see it as strength paying off, while critics fear alliance strains, but both sides stress action against cartels fueling U.S. border and overdose crises.
