Trump and Petro clash over how best to uproot Colombia’s cocaine crops

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss Colombia's anti-drug strategy, which has become a point of contention between the two nations. Petro has shifted away from forced eradication of coca crops, the raw ingredient for cocaine, towards voluntary crop substitution programs to support poor, rural farmers. This approach contrasts with the US's preference for more aggressive, military-led tactics to curb coca production in Colombia, the world's largest cocaine source. The meeting comes as Petro faces pressure from Trump to adopt stricter measures, while farmers in coca-growing regions emphasize the lack of economic alternatives and the violence associated with the drug trade. The outcome of the meeting could significantly impact Colombia's approach to combating drug production and its relationship with the United States.