U.S. President Donald Trump (left, EPA) and Colombian President Gustavo Petro (AFP). [Photo = Reporter Lim Yo-hee]

U.S. President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who had been exchanging aggressive remarks, have opened a channel for dialogue with a single phone call.

The call between the two leaders, which took place on the 7th (local time), was initiated by President Petro to directly explain the differences between the two countries, including drug issues.

President Trump welcomed the call and indicated his expectation of a summit meeting at the White House in the near future.

The relationship between the two leaders had been nearing its worst. Trump, a right-wing president advocating for "America First," had accused Petro, Colombia's first left-wing president, of neglecting or being involved in cocaine production within his country.

He even referred to President Petro as a "Lunatic," "drug cartel leader," and "disgusting man," and placed him and his associates on a sanctions list.

In response, Petro criticized Trump as "someone pointing a gun at humanity" and incited U.S. soldiers to disobey Trump's orders.

Consequently, the U.S. government took the unprecedented step of revoking President Petro's visa to enter the United States.

Experts attribute President Petro's shift in attitude primarily to the "crisis of isolation." Witnessing the swift arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro, a neighbor, instilled a significant sense of "I'm next," they noted.

Furthermore, for Colombia, severing ties with the United States, its largest trading partner and security ally, would mean national ruin. Following the call with the White House, President Petro reportedly stated, "Colombia can now sleep soundly."

President Petro is attempting to foster business cooperation by proposing investments worth $500 billion (approximately 695 trillion won) in exchange for supplying clean energy from Latin America to the United States.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee