BOGOTA, March 13 - Colombia's foreign and defense ministers were traveling to Caracas on Friday, after the postponement of a meeting between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his counterpart, acting President Delcy Rodriguez, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The meeting was to be Rodriguez's first presidential-level bilateral since she took power following her predecessor's ouster by the United States.

The officials are likely to discuss bilateral trade, which Petro, who leaves office in August, reopened at the start of his term, and cooperation on energy, including an agreement this week to repair a damaged section of a binational pipeline that will allow Bogota to import natural gas from its neighbor.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has supported a series of moves by Rodriguez, formerly vice president, to attract investors in oil and mining and stabilize the country since the January raid that captured President Nicolas Maduro, with Trump repeatedly praising Rodriguez for her cooperation with the U.S.

Rodriguez has repeatedly asserted that dialogue is the way to resolve long-standing disagreements with the U.S., has welcomed the U.S. secretaries of energy and interior and potential investors in Caracas, and the two countries have formally re-established diplomatic ties. Despite this outward cooperation, Reuters reporting has shown the Trump administration is also quietly building a legal case against her to strengthen its leverage with Caracas.

Petro, who had a cordial relationship with Maduro, has had repeated squabbles with Trump, though the two men were each positive after a face-to-face meeting in Washington last month and had a friendly call on Thursday, according to Petro's office, where they discussed the economy along the Venezuela-Colombian border.

Trump has repeatedly demanded more cooperation from Colombia in the fight against drug trafficking and has accused Petro, without evidence, of being an "illegal drug leader". Petro meanwhile, claims record drug seizures during his tenure and has said deadly strikes on alleged drug boats amount to war crimes.