Colombia yields to Trump's stipulations
Colombia is set to dispatch a presidential aircraft to assist in the deportation of illegal migrants from the United States. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Colombia has acquiesced to pressure from Washington, reversing its prior decision to ban flights carrying deported illegal migrants from arriving in the country.
On Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared that he would refuse entry to American military aircraft filled with deportees unless the US establishes “a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants.” In response, US President Donald Trump quickly threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian goods and visa restrictions on Colombian officials.
Later that same day, Bogota announced that Petro’s presidential plane would be used to transport Colombian nationals facing deportation. “The government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged for the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of Colombian nationals who were to arrive in the country today in the morning hours, coming in from deportation flights,” according to a statement from Petro’s office.
“Colombians, as patriots and subjects of rights, were not and will not be banished from Colombian territory,” the statement emphasized.
In a lengthy post on X on Monday, Petro criticized the coercive tactics from Washington, asserting, “You can use your economic power and arrogance to attempt to stage a coup d’etat, like you did with Allende,” referring to the CIA-backed military coup in Chile in 1973 that led to the death of democratically elected President Salvador Allende.
“But I will die standing by my principles. I’ve endured torture, and I will endure you,” Petro threatened. “You will never dominate us.” He also pledged to impose tariffs on American goods in retaliation for the economic pressure from the US.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt issued a statement on Monday, claiming that Colombia “has agreed to all of President Trump’s demands, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”
Leavitt further noted that the drafted tariffs “will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.” She added that visa restrictions and increased border and customs checks would remain in place “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
Trump, who took office on January 20, made combating illegal immigration a central theme of his election campaign. Shortly after his inauguration, he declared a border emergency and sent additional active-duty troops to assist border agents, while also promising to intensify deportation efforts.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Sunday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared that he would refuse entry to American military aircraft filled with deportees unless the US establishes “a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants.” In response, US President Donald Trump quickly threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian goods and visa restrictions on Colombian officials.
Later that same day, Bogota announced that Petro’s presidential plane would be used to transport Colombian nationals facing deportation. “The government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged for the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of Colombian nationals who were to arrive in the country today in the morning hours, coming in from deportation flights,” according to a statement from Petro’s office.
“Colombians, as patriots and subjects of rights, were not and will not be banished from Colombian territory,” the statement emphasized.
In a lengthy post on X on Monday, Petro criticized the coercive tactics from Washington, asserting, “You can use your economic power and arrogance to attempt to stage a coup d’etat, like you did with Allende,” referring to the CIA-backed military coup in Chile in 1973 that led to the death of democratically elected President Salvador Allende.
“But I will die standing by my principles. I’ve endured torture, and I will endure you,” Petro threatened. “You will never dominate us.” He also pledged to impose tariffs on American goods in retaliation for the economic pressure from the US.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt issued a statement on Monday, claiming that Colombia “has agreed to all of President Trump’s demands, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on US military aircraft, without limitation or delay.”
Leavitt further noted that the drafted tariffs “will be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement.” She added that visa restrictions and increased border and customs checks would remain in place “until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”
Trump, who took office on January 20, made combating illegal immigration a central theme of his election campaign. Shortly after his inauguration, he declared a border emergency and sent additional active-duty troops to assist border agents, while also promising to intensify deportation efforts.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
