WASHINGTON, USA — The White House announced on Sunday, January 26, 2025, that Colombia has agreed to President Donald Trump’s terms following a dispute over U.S. deportation flights.
The move comes after Colombia initially denied entry to two U.S. military aircraft carrying deported Colombian nationals, prompting Trump to threaten sweeping retaliatory measures, including tariffs, visa sanctions, and enhanced customs inspections.
“The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.
Trump’s proposed tariffs and sanctions, Leavitt added, “will be held in reserve and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honour this agreement.”
However, measures such as visa sanctions and enhanced inspections at U.S. ports of entry “will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
Colombia Responds
Colombian Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo stated that the government would continue receiving deported nationals, ensuring “dignified conditions” for returnees.
Speaking in Spanish during a livestream, Murillo said, “The government, under the leadership of Gustavo Petro, has at its disposal the presidential plane to receive the Colombians that would have been deported today.”
The Colombian Foreign Ministry later announced that Murillo and Ambassador Daniel Garcia-Peña would travel to Washington, D.C., for high-level discussions to sustain diplomatic relations and follow up on agreements reached during the negotiations.
The dispute began earlier on Sunday when Colombian President Gustavo Petro revoked diplomatic clearance for two U.S. deportation flights that had been approved to land in Bogotá.
The flights, carrying approximately 80 Colombian nationals each, were grounded after departure from California.
Trump’s Retaliatory Threats
In response, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to issue a series of retaliatory threats.
“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 wrote.
He proposed tariffs of 25% on all Colombian imports, with plans to raise them to 50% within a week if Colombia did not comply.
The president also announced a travel ban and visa revocations targeting Colombian government officials, allies, and their families.
Trump justified his actions, stating, “Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardised the National Security and Public Safety of the United States.”
Petro’s Defiance
Petro, for his part, struck a defiant tone, saying that Trump’s threats “do not scare me.”
He instructed Colombia’s foreign trade minister to impose 25% tariffs on U.S. imports and redirect Colombian exports to other global markets.
Petro criticised the use of U.S. military planes for deportations, writing on X, “A migrant is not a criminal and should be treated with the dignity a human being deserves.”
He added, “We will receive our nationals in civilian airplanes, without treating them as criminals. Colombia must be respected.”
Broader Implications
Colombia’s reversal highlights the escalating tensions surrounding Trump’s hardline immigration policies, which include increased deportation efforts and additional military deployments to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Colombia is not the only country to resist U.S. deportation practices. Mexico temporarily blocked U.S. deportation flights last week, while Brazil and Guatemala have also voiced concerns over the treatment of deportees.
Human rights groups have criticised the Trump administration’s use of military aircraft for deportation flights, arguing it militarises migration enforcement and treats migrants inhumanely.
In a recent case, the Brazilian government condemned reports of degrading conditions on a deportation flight, including the use of handcuffs and inadequate ventilation.
Economic Stakes
The United States and Colombia share significant trade ties, with the total value of goods and services exchanged reaching $53.5 billion in 2022, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
Colombia’s key exports to the U.S. include oil, minerals, and agricultural goods, which account for over 66% of imports.
While the immediate crisis has been resolved, analysts suggest that the diplomatic fallout could strain long-term relations between the two countries, particularly if further disputes arise over immigration enforcement and trade.
As the situation unfolds, both nations are under pressure to balance their domestic priorities with maintaining a cooperative partnership.
