diplomatic tensions and Washington's military campaign in Latin America. "We'll see the results of that meeting," Petro said during a televised meeting with his ministers.

Petro's US visit will come on the heels of a bitter war of words with Trump in the last year, including Washington's threats to take military action in Colombia, as well as the US-led attack on Caracas to depose leftist leader Nicolas Maduro.

Washington and Bogota have enjoyed security cooperation for decades, but ties have deteriorated since Trump began his second term last January. The 65-year-old leftist and former guerrilla, who leaves office this year and is barred from running for re-election, has been among the most vocal leaders to criticize Trump, openly defying the Republican's key goal of deporting migrants. After Maduro's capture, Trump accused the Colombian leader of being involved in drug trafficking, without providing evidence, and his administration has hit Petro and his family with financial sanctions. Petro has also been a vocal critic of the US military campaign against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, with dozens of boats destroyed in strikes and over 100 people killed in what rights groups have accused of being extra-judicial killings. (Bssnews)