Colombian President Gustavo Petro described his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington as “positive,” saying the discussions were grounded in shared values and mutual respect despite differing political backgrounds. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Petro highlighted that the conversation began with the theme of freedom, inspired by a portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the White House. Petro also noted that Trump expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of sanctions in addressing certain international disputes — a stance he said he himself supports, calling sanctions “not a rational path.” Instead, he emphasized that cooperation should be based on freedom and common principles rather than pressure or “blackmail.”