Trump’s Calculated Diplomatic Turn with Colombia’s Petro Masks Underlying Tensions

President Donald Trump’s upcoming White House meeting with Colombian President Gustavo Petro may seem like an unexpected diplomatic thaw given their recent bitter exchanges—but beneath the surface lies a complicated struggle over America’s national security and drug war priorities.Can Washington Reconcile With a Leader It Publicly Condemned?Just weeks ago, Trump publicly branded Petro as a “sick man” facilitating cocaine flooding into the United States. This harsh rhetoric came alongside unprecedented military strikes in the region that have cost over 126 lives targeting suspected drug trafficking operations. The Trump administration even imposed sanctions on Petro and his family for alleged involvement...