27
Jan
Jan
COLOMBIA BACKTRACKS ON DEPORTATION FLIGHTS AFTER TRUMP THREATENS TARIFFS AND SANCTIONS
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Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months
- 0
- 2 min read
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has reversed his decision to reject deportation flights from the United States after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on the country. The White House confirmed that Petro had agreed to accept the deportation flights, including those on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay. The agreement came after Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the US from Colombia, which would have risen to 50% after one week. Trump also ordered a travel ban and visa revocations for all Colombian government officials, plus “allies and supporters.” Petro had initially rejected the deportation flights, saying that the US could not “treat Colombian migrants as criminals.” However, after Trump’s threats, Petro offered his presidential plane to repatriate migrants coming back from the US. The Colombian government said in a statement that the plane would help facilitate a “dignified return” for the migrants. “The Government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who were going to arrive in the country today in the morning, coming from deportation flights,” the statement read. Trump hailed the agreement as a victory, saying that “America is respected again.” “President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty, and he expects all other nations of the world to fully cooperate in accepting the deportation of their citizens illegally present in the United States,” the White House said in a statement. The dispute between the US and Colombia had escalated earlier on Sunday, with Petro threatening to raise tariffs on US imports by 25% and then 50%. However, the agreement reached later in the day appeared to have eased tensions between the two countries.