Colombia withdraws from accepting deportees on military planes following Trump’s tariff threats
Colombia has managed to avoid a potentially harmful trade war with the United States by reaching an agreement to accept deported migrants on military planes. This resolution comes after President Donald Trump made a series of threats, including imposing steep tariffs.
Colombia has announced that it has accepted “all of President Trump’s terms,” which includes the unrestricted acceptance of immigrants who entered the US illegally. This decision came after two US military planes carrying deportees were prevented from entering the country.
“We will ensure that Colombians and Colombian women who return as deportees are welcomed back and provided with decent living conditions as citizens with rights,” stated Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo during a televised address. He further announced the resumption of US deportation flights and the preparation of the Colombian presidential plane to aid in the repatriation of citizens.
The White House has also withdrawn its threat to impose tariffs on Colombia unless the country fails to honor the agreement. However, other penalties such as visa sanctions and customs inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo ships will remain in place until the first plane of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.
The White House stated that today’s events demonstrate that America is now respected globally. They emphasized that President Trump will continue to prioritize protecting the nation’s sovereignty and expects all other countries to cooperate fully in accepting the deportation of their citizens who are illegally present in the United States.
The announcement marks the conclusion of a turbulent weekend that had the potential to increase coffee prices for American consumers and affect numerous Colombian workers. Additionally, this is the first instance of Trump taking significant measures against another country in response to his immigration policy since assuming office last week.
The feud between the US and Colombia started on Sunday morning regarding the US military flights transporting deportees to Colombia. According to documents examined by CNN, Colombia had initially given approval for the flights. However, Colombian President Gustavo Petro denied authorizing them, and US officials argue that the authorization was rescinded after the planes were already en route.
Petro took action to prevent the planes from landing, accusing the US of treating Colombian migrants as criminals. This prompted Trump to respond by imposing high tariffs on all Colombian imports, implementing a travel ban for Colombian citizens, revoking visas for Colombian officials in the US, and suspending the processing of both immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
Colombia, a major non-NATO ally of the US and its closest partner in South America for decades, is facing extraordinary visa restrictions. Typically imposed on adversaries or individuals involved in human rights abuses, these restrictions are unprecedented for a country with such a close diplomatic relationship.
Petro responded by issuing a warning of retaliatory tariffs against the US. He took to social media to criticize Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating, “You will never see me burning a US flag or carrying out a raid to return handcuffed illegal immigrants to the US.”
The White House announced on Sunday evening that an agreement had been reached between the two countries.
Other countries are also facing potential challenges as they prepare for Trump’s immigration crackdown. The new president has already threatened tariffs on Canada and Mexico due to border issues. The perceived early victory over Colombia has given some in the White House a sense of confidence.
A Trump administration official expressed their disapproval, stating, “You cannot publicly defy us like that. We will ensure that the world understands they cannot escape accountability for their lack of seriousness and deceit.”
The recent exchange of threats in the trade war saga has brought attention to the potential costly consequences that such a conflict could bring. While the immediate threat has been temporarily diffused, the episode serves as a reminder of the high stakes involved in trade disputes.
Colombia may not have a significant trading partnership with the US, but it does export minerals, metals, and coffee. Over the past year, coffee prices have already experienced a significant increase, and the imposition of tariffs could further raise the cost for American consumers.
If Trump decides to retract his threats against Colombia, it doesn’t change the fact that he is still determined to impose tariffs on other countries this week. He believes that by doing so, he can compel manufacturers to relocate their operations to the United States. However, this move could potentially result in higher prices for Americans. Importers are the ones responsible for paying the tariffs, and they often transfer these additional costs to consumers.
Economic and foreign policy analysts have also cautioned Colombia against engaging in a diplomatic dispute with the US. The Colombian Council on International Relations (CORI), a think tank consisting of former foreign ministers and analysts, has emphasized the potential harm of retaliatory measures on Colombia’s economy. They have urged the government to prioritize the preservation of its relationship with Washington.
In a post on X, Maria Claudia Lacouture, the head of the Colombo-American Chamber of Commerce, expressed the same concerns, emphasizing that imposing tariffs on Colombian products would result in an immediate and severe impact.
More than 500,000 families rely on the coffee sector alone as their source of income. In addition, thousands of single mothers who work in flower farming would lose their livelihoods. It is crucial to remember that numerous other sectors would also be negatively impacted.
According to White House border czar Tom Homan, the United States has started utilizing military aircraft to repatriate recent border crossers to their home countries. This operation, which commenced last week, is expected to continue on a daily basis. Homan emphasized that this action serves as a strong message to other nations.
According to Thomas Homan, the Defense Department has previously assisted administrations, but not to the extent that it is currently doing. Homan believes that this level of support is a significant boost and sends a powerful message to the rest of the world that the US border is closed.
The United States is also seeking assistance from Mexico in repatriating its citizens through land ports of entry along the US-Mexico border. However, there was a recent incident where Mexico reportedly turned around a military flight destined for the country.
Brazil, along with Colombia, expressed its condemnation of the Trump administration’s handling of repatriated migrants on deportation flights. The treatment of Brazilian nationals who arrived in the country on Friday was described as “degrading.”
Brazilian authorities have reported discovering 88 deportees who were handcuffed on a US flight that mistakenly landed in a different city than planned. The plane was not authorized to continue its journey due to several issues, including the use of handcuffs and chains, as well as the poor condition of the aircraft, including a faulty air conditioning system. The deportees were subsequently transported to their intended destination on a Brazilian Air Force flight.
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