[First Colombia turned away US military planes carrying migrants, then President Donald Trump threatened Bogota with steep tariffs, before the two countries reached an agreement. It’s hard to believe that unfolded in just one Sunday. But yesterday, Colombia walked back from the brink of a damaging trade war with the United States.
Here’s how it unfolded:
Flights turned away: Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked US military flights carrying deportees to Colombia on Sunday morning. Documents reviewed by CNN show Colombia had previously approved the flights, though Petro disputed he had authorized them. Petro blocked the planes from landing, accusing the US of treating Colombian migrants like criminals.
Trump threats: After the flights were blocked, Trump ordered steep tariffs on all Colombian imports, a travel ban for Colombian citizens, the revocation of visas for Colombian officials in the US, and the suspension of visa processing for both immigrant and non-immigrant visas.
Colombia’s response: In response, Petro threatened retaliatory tariffs on the US and attacked Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on social media, writing: “You will never see me burning a US flag or carrying out a raid to return handcuffed illegal immigrants to the US.”
Agreement reached: By Sunday evening, the White House announced the two countries had reached their agreement. Colombia said it had agreed to “all of President Trump’s terms,” including the “unrestricted acceptance” of immigrants who entered the US illegally and said the Colombian presidential plane was being prepared to assist with repatriation. The White House also backed off its threat to impose tariffs unless Colombia “fails to honor this agreement,” adding other penalties will stay in place until the first plane of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.
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