President Donald Trump had threatened tariffs of up to 25% on Colombian imports, a travel ban on Colombian officials, and financial sanctions if the South American nation continued to refuse such flights.
Both governments said they had “overcome the impasse,” with Colombia’s Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announcing the country’s presidential plane was ready to facilitate the return of migrants, Reuters reported on Monday.
Though Colombian President Gustavo Petro initially condemned military deportation flights as “Nazi” tactics, Sunday’s deal allows Colombia to avoid economic penalties that threatened one-third of its exports to the U.S., valued at $33.8 billion in two-way trade last year.
Trump, who declared illegal immigration a national emergency after taking office last Monday, has escalated deportations, including using U.S. military planes to fly migrants to Guatemala. Mexico recently refused a similar request, and Brazil criticized the U.S. after handcuffed Brazilian deportees arrived on a commercial flight.
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Source: Reuters, PAP, RMF24, Polskie Radio 24