Washington: The U.S. and Colombia pulled back from the brink of a trade war on Sunday after the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept deported migrants aboard U.S. military flights, ending a standoff.
President Donald Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on Colombia after the South American nation refused to accept deported migrants on military aircraft as part of his aggressive immigration policies. However, in a statement on Sunday evening, the White House confirmed that Colombia had agreed to accept the deported individuals, and the U.S. would not enforce its threatened penalties.
The statement highlighted that Colombia had agreed to all of Trump’s terms, including the unconditional acceptance of all illegal migrants returned from the U.S., including those transported on U.S. military aircraft, without any limitations or delays.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo issued a statement saying, “We have overcome the impasse with the U.S. government.” However, the statement did not explicitly confirm military flights, though it did not contradict the White House’s announcement.
Trump’s Threats and Colombia’s Economic Significance
Trump had threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Colombian goods and revoke visas of Colombian officials if the nation did not comply with accepting its deported citizens. Colombia, a key trading partner with the U.S., has a trade agreement dating back to 2006, generating $33.8 billion in two-way trade.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro condemned the use of military aircraft for deportations and stated that he would never carry out a raid to return Americans. However, he offered his presidential plane to facilitate the “dignified return” of deported migrants.
Trump’s Actions and Global Reactions
Trump has ramped up efforts to crack down on illegal immigration, including directing the U.S. military for border security, issuing a blanket ban on asylum, and tightening citizenship rules for children born in the U.S.
Additionally, Brazil condemned the “degrading treatment” of Brazilian migrants after they were deported from the U.S. on a commercial flight, with some passengers reporting mistreatment during the journey.
