[A Simmering Diplomatic Stand-off Between the US and Colombia Erupts on Social Media
A simmering diplomatic stand-off over deportation flights spilled onto social media Sunday, threatening the once close relationship between the United States and Colombia and further exposing the anxiety many feel in Latin America towards a second Trump presidency.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned back two US military deportation flights, sparking a heated debate on Twitter. Petro asserted he would never allow Colombians to be deported in handcuffs on flights, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio countered that he would ensure the world knew “they can’t get away with being non-serious and deceptive.”
The sudden rift between the US and Colombia, a major recipient of US military aid, immediately galvanized a region struggling to respond to the new US president. Trump has vowed to deport scores of immigrants back to Latin American nations, increase economic sanctions on leftist governments in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and seize control of the Panama Canal.
Some regional leaders, including Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, voiced support for Petro’s stance, with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel writing on social media, “Our support to President Gustavo Petro in his worthy defense of the rights of Colombians and his response to the discriminatory treatment and blackmail with which they intend to pressure his people and Our America.”
However, the US responded with economic threats, hitting Colombia with 25% tariffs and canceled visa services, causing Petro to back down. The incident sent a chilling message across the hemisphere about the Trump administration’s willingness to exert pressure on regional leaders to fall in line with its campaign to accept deportations, which are deeply unpopular in the region.
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