Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, a former Marxist guerrilla and a vocal critic of the U.S. international coverage, has embarrassingly folded to President Donald Trump’s strategic stress, making a drastic U-turn by sending the presidential aircraft to gather Colombian deportees beforehand barred from touchdown.
This transfer comes after Petro’s preliminary bravado in blocking two U.S. military deportation flights, a choice that sparked a fiery response from the Trump administration.
President Trump, in a attribute present of pressure, didn’t simply criticize Petro’s actions however retaliated closely by implementing extreme financial and journey sanctions in opposition to Colombia.
The sanctions included an emergency imposition of a 25% tariff on all Colombian items, a determine that Trump threatened to double inside per week.
Trump launched a scathing rebuke on Truth Social:
“I used to be simply knowledgeable that two repatriation flights from the USA, with numerous Unlawful Criminals, weren’t allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who’s already very unpopular amongst his folks. Petro’s denial of those flights has jeopardized the Nationwide Safety and Public Security of the USA, so I’ve directed my Administration to right away take the next pressing and decisive retaliatory measures:
-Emergency 25% tariffs on all items coming into the USA. In a single week, the 25% tariffs will likely be raised to 50%.
-A Journey Ban and rapid Visa Revocations on the Colombian Authorities Officers, and all Allies and Supporters.
-Visa Sanctions on all Social gathering Members, Household Members, and Supporters of the Colombian Authorities.
-Enhanced Customs and Border Safety Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on nationwide safety grounds.
-IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Monetary Sanctions to be absolutely imposed.
These measures are just the start. We won’t enable the Colombian Authorities to violate its authorized obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they pressured into the USA!”
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After initially puffing his chest in defiance in opposition to Trump, Petro has now determined to ship Colombia’s presidential aircraft to fetch deportees he beforehand didn’t need to contact.
The letter reads:
The Authorities of Colombia confirms its participation within the Extraordinary Meeting of the Neighborhood of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), scheduled for January 30. This assembly will likely be a possibility to handle strategic points for the area, equivalent to cooperation on migration, the safety of human rights and the strengthening of relations between member international locations.
In preparation for this summit, talks have been held with Honduras, the nation that holds the presidency of CELAC, with a view to promote a regional strategy to migration challenges and assure dignified situations for residents of the area.
On the identical time, the Colombian Authorities, beneath the management of President Gustavo Petro, has organized for the presidential aircraft to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who had been to reach within the nation this morning from deportation flights. This measure responds to the Authorities’s dedication to ensure dignified situations. By no means have Colombians, as patriots and topics of rights, been or will likely be banished from Colombian territory.
Moreover, the Authorities has convened a Unified Command Publish (PMU) on migration, during which representatives of the Ombudsman’s Workplace, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs and the Presidency of the Republic will take part. This house goals to ascertain and overview protocols that make sure the dignified therapy of deported Colombians, guaranteeing that the procedures respect the human rights and integrity of every individual.
The Colombian Authorities can be in lively discussions with the USA Authorities, in search of agreements that guarantee minimal situations of respect and dignified therapy for compatriots throughout deportation processes, recognizing them as topics of rights.
Colombia reaffirms its dedication to defending its residents and can proceed to steer regional and worldwide efforts to seek out humane and truthful options to migration challenges.
BREAKING: Colombia’s President simply issued a response to President Trump, folding quicker than a tenting tent.
“The Colombian Authorities, beneath the management of President Gustavo Petro, has organized for the presidential aircraft to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots… pic.twitter.com/ek5oSIHDqX
— George (@BehizyTweets) January 26, 2025
