Trump gets his way as Colombia accepts US flights after a brief tariff standoff

Shortly after the United States and Colombia imposed retaliatory tariffs, the White House on Sunday confirmed that the Latin American nation has agreed to US President Donald Trump’s terms. Following a brief tariff standoff, Colombia has decided that it will be accepting American flights carrying deported immigrants.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement confirming the news. “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 US military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” Leavitt said in a statement.

She mentioned that the draft actions on tariffs and sanctions will now be “held in reserves and will not be signed.” However, she warned that both of the measures will be taken if Colombia fails to honour the agreement. Colombia’s acceptance came after both nations increased tariffs on each other’s goods by 25 per cent.

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The diplomatic row between Washington and Bogota erupted after Colombian President Gustavo Petro denied entry to US military deportation flights which were carrying its own nationals. He insisted that the country would “receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals” and migrants must be returned “with dignity and respect.”

Trump responded to the proclamation by imposing 25 per cent tariffs on US imports of Colombian goods. Shortly after this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced visa sanctions and ordered the US embassy in Colombia to stop issuing visas. Following these measures, Petro announced retaliatory sanctions of 25 per cent ensuing a war between the two nations.

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Colombia caves to American pressure

In the Sunday statement, Leavitt made it clear that visa sanctions and Customs and Border Protection’s enhanced inspections “will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned.”

Meanwhile, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo issued a separate statement in which they noted that the country “will continue to receive Colombians deported, guaranteeing them dignified conditions as citizens subject to rights.”

“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,” he continued on the brief livestream. “Colombia reiterates that the diplomatic channels for interlocution will be open to maintain the rights, the national interest and the dignity of our citizens,” the foreign minister furthered.