Petro accepts the deportation of his citizens, while the Colombian foreign minister announces upcoming meetings in Washington.

On Sunday night, the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down from its diplomatic conflict with the U.S. by announcing that Colombia would accept the deportation of its citizens. For its part, the White House mentioned that the Petro administration had accepted all of President Donald Trump’s terms.

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“We have overcome the impasse with the U.S. government. We will continue to welcome Colombian men and women returning as deportees, guaranteeing them dignified conditions as citizens with rights,” said Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo.

“The Colombian government has made the presidential plane available to facilitate the return of the nationals who were scheduled to arrive in the morning in the country on deportation flights,” he added, putting an end to the exchange of messages between Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro on social media throughout Sunday.

The diplomatic tension arose after Petro refused to accept two military planes carrying deported Colombians from the United States. Following his decision not to authorize the landing of the military planes, Trump announced he would impose 25% tariffs on Colombian products and revoke the visas of Colombian government officials. In response, Petro promised reciprocal measures.

Despite the agreement reached, the White House stated that the possibility of imposing tariffs and sanctions remains “on hold unless Colombia fails to comply with the agreement.” Trump argued that Petro’s refusal endangered “the national and public security of the United States.”

On Sunday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted photos of migrants boarding military planes for deportation flights over the weekend. The images showed migrants restrained at the waist and handcuffed. “President Trump is sending a strong and clear message to the entire world: if you enter the U.S. illegally, you will face serious consequences,” she stated.

Colombia’s Response

The U.S. decision to send deportees on military planes was the reason Petro cited for his refusal. “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals… I cannot force migrants to stay in a country that does not want them; but if that country returns them, it must be done with dignity and respect for them and for our country,” he pointed out, demanding that deportations be carried out on “civilian planes” and that a protocol be established, as “a migrant is not a criminal.”

After the announcement of sanctions against his government, Petro issued a statement saying he had ordered the presidential plane to transport the returnees. He also mentioned that 15,660 U.S. citizens residing in Colombia are in “irregular status.” Therefore, he urged them to “regularize their situation” and assured them of their continued stay in Colombian territory.

“You will never see me burning an American flag or conducting a raid to deport illegal immigrants in handcuffs to the U.S. True libertarians will never attack human freedom. We are the opposite of Nazis,” the Colombian president said before both governments reached an agreement.

U.S. Tariffs and Other Pressure Measures

In addition to the initial 25% tariff increase on all goods imported from Colombia, Trump had stated that within a week, the rate would rise to 50%. In response, Petro announced a similar increase in tariffs on products imported from the United States.

“I have instructed the Trade Minister to raise import tariffs from the U.S. by 25%. If I am informed that you impose a 50% tariff on the fruits of our labor entering the U.S., I will do the same,” the Colombian president told Trump.

“North American products, whose prices will increase in the national economy, must be replaced with domestic production. The government will assist in this effort,” Petro added.

Trump also ordered “enhanced” inspections at customs and border points on all Colombian citizens and products entering the U.S., citing “national security reasons.” In his list of sanctions, the Republican leader included revoking visas for Colombian officials, members of parties supporting Petro, and their families.

Late Sunday, the White House stated that these measures would remain in effect until the first deportation flight landed in Colombia.

A Stern Warning

During his first week in office, Trump appeared to prioritize immigration policy over trade measures, though these were a key campaign promise. Now, for the first time, he used tariffs to threaten a country he believes is not sufficiently supporting the United States’ new hardline immigration policies.

Although Colombia only refused the landing of two U.S. military flights carrying undocumented deportees, that was enough for Trump to lash out at one of the United States’ closest allies in South America.

The Republican leader used Colombia to send a strong warning to other countries about the severe consequences they could face if they fail to cooperate with his immigration policies. This was a significant challenge for Colombia but also a test for Trump’s new administration.

Brazil Also Protested

On Saturday, Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Ministry also condemned the “degrading treatment” received by Brazilian citizens who were deported in handcuffs on a commercial flight. Upon their arrival in Brazil, some passengers reported mistreatment during the flight.

Onboard the plane, which carried 88 Brazilian passengers, were 16 U.S. security agents and eight crew members. The flight landed in the city of Belo Horizonte, in the state of Minas Gerais. Subsequently, Brazilian authorities ordered the removal of the deportees’ handcuffs, and Brazilian President Lula da Silva sent an Air Force plane to complete their journey.

Since Trump’s return to the White House, U.S. immigration policy has only become stricter, with decisions aimed at facilitating the deportation of thousands of people and canceling ongoing asylum or refugee processes. All of this has been accompanied by demands on Latin American countries to take back their expelled nationals.

teleSUR/ JF Source: BBC – PL

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