Key facts
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump.
- The discussion centered on Colombia's efforts to reduce coca cultivation.
- Colombia stated it had met a target of eradicating 30,000 hectares of coca.
- Petro requested the removal of personal sanctions imposed by the U.S.
- Trump indicated he would attempt to resolve the sanction issue.
Outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call on Friday to discuss Colombia's anti-drug initiatives, including efforts to reduce coca cultivation. The Colombian government stated that it had met a target of eradicating approximately 30,000 hectares of coca, the primary ingredient in cocaine, through a voluntary program. The government anticipates this total will reach 41,000 hectares by the end of 2026, with funding secured through the end of the current year.
The conversation occurred as Petro nears the end of his presidency. Relations between Bogota and Washington have been strained, particularly after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Petro in October, citing a failure to curb the drug trade. Petro's office reported that he asked Trump to lift these personal sanctions, to which Trump replied he would "do his best" to address the matter. Anti-drug cooperation has historically been a cornerstone of the long-standing security partnership between Colombia and the United States.