Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro buckles under Trump’s trade war threat — offers presidential plane for deportation flights
Colombian President Gustavo Petro quickly reversed course about accepting flights of deported migrants from the US after President Trump threatened emergency tariffs of up to 50% on the South American country for refusing to cooperate.
Petro not only acquiesced to Trump’s demands, he even offered up the official Colombian presidential plane to help shuttle migrants back to the country, calling it a response to “the Government’s commitment to guarantee decent conditions.”
“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,” a translated official statement read in part.
In response, the Trump administration announced it will not impose sanctions and tariffs so long as Colombia follows through with its part of the deal, according to a statement from the White House press secretary late Sunday.
The visa sanctions issued by the State Department and enhanced inspections from Customs and Border Protection, however, will remain in effect “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
“Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” the press secretary added.
Despite offering up his own air travel, Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, went on an unhinged and bizarre rant against Trump on social media.
“You don’t like our freedom, fine,” Petro posted in the rant directed at Trump on X. “I do not shake hands with white enslavers.”
The short-lived battle of wills between the world leaders kicked off this weekend when the US sent a pair of military flights loaded with deported Colombian migrants as part of the Trump administration’s pledge to crack down on illegal aliens.
A defiant Petro initially refused entry to the Colombian migrants from the US, and insisted the US cannot treat those being deported as “criminals.”
The first round of deportations under Trump has targeted migrants with criminal records and deportation orders.
Petro further said, “The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.”
In response, Trump swiftly enacted a wave of retaliatory measures, including ordering a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods coming into the US.
via REUTERS
“These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump warned, noting that the tariffs would jump to 50% after a week.
Before the South American leader caved, Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged Petro had “canceled his authorization” for the flights of Colombian nationals when the planes were already in the air.
“It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner. Colombian President Petro had authorized flights and provided all needed authorizations and then canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air,” Rubio posted on X.
“As demonstrated by today’s actions, we are unwavering in our commitment to end illegal immigration and bolster America’s border security.”
A State Department spokesperson told the Associated Press the agency suspended processing visas at the US Embassy in Colombia’s capital, Bogota, “in direct response to President Petro’s decision to not accept repatriation flights of Colombian citizens.”
