Trump and Petro

U.S. President Donald Trump held talks with Colombian President Gustavo Petro at the White House on Tuesday, just weeks after threatening military action against the South American country and accusing its leader of flooding the United States with cocaine.

The meeting, which focused on regional security cooperation and anti-drug trafficking efforts, came after Trump claimed that Petro—who has been critical of Trump and the U.S. operation to capture then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—has become more willing to work with his administration to stem the flow of illegal drugs from Colombia.

Historically, Bogotá has been an ally of Washington. For the past 30 years, the United States has worked closely with Colombia, the world's largest producer of cocaine, to arrest drug traffickers, repel rebel groups, and foster economic development in rural areas. Colombia is also designated by the U.S. as a major non-NATO ally.

But relations between the leaders have become strained due to the buildup of U.S. forces in the region to conduct unprecedented deadly military strikes targeting vessels suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. At least 126 people have died in 36 known attacks.

Trump and Petro have been at loggerheads over a number of issues, and have each heaped personal attacks on the other. The meeting between the two leaders was cordial, but the future of relations between the two nations remains unclear, especially with Colombian elections coming up in March.