The White House closed the crisis with Colombia over the repatriations of immigrants by ensuring late on Sunday that the Government of Bogotá accepts “all of President Trump’s terms” in this regard.
That includes “the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal foreigners from Colombia returned from the United States, including on military aircraft, without limitations or delays.”
Almost immediately, Colombian President Gustavo Petro reposted the US statement without any comment, implying that he completely validated it, although minutes later he deleted it without any explanation.
The harsh statement issued by the White House assures that, according to this agreement, the tariffs promised by Donald Trump against Colombian imports and the sanctions “will not be signed, unless Colombia does not honor this agreement.”
But he clarifies that “the visa restrictions issued by the State Department – for senior Colombian officials – and enhanced Customs and Border Protection inspections will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees returns successfully,” he adds. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
“President Trump will continue to vigorously protect our nation’s sovereignty and hopes that other nations around the world will fully cooperate and accept the deportations of their citizens illegally present in the United States,” the statement said.
President Trump announced this Sunday the imposition of 25% tariffs on all Colombian products, a tariff that will rise to 50% within a week, and the revocation of visas for senior Colombian government officials and their families.
In addition, the president ordered reinforced inspections at customs and border controls for “all” Colombian citizens and goods, and the “total imposition” of fiscal, banking and financial sanctions on Colombia, to which was added the announcement of the suspension of the issuance of visas in the consular section in Bogotá.
The US Government justified these measures by President Petro’s “refusal” to “accept two repatriation flights that he had previously authorized.”
In retaliation, Petro announced that Colombia will also apply tariffs of 25% on imported US products, and then sent numerous messages on his X account to defend his position, which he now appears to have retracted.
Although the exact reason that had led Petro to reject two deportation flights – which have been common since the time of Joe Biden – has not been specified, it seems to be that the US used military aircraft to bring the emigrants. handcuffed, something he has already been doing with similar flights arriving in Brazil.
The controversy over these flights has had a continental reach, and the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, called an emergency meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) for Thursday, supposedly to express support for Colombia.
The United States is Colombia’s first trading partner, while for the United States Colombia is only number 23, and exports to the North American country mainly refined oil, gold, aluminum, coal, coffee or flowers, mainly. It is a major importer of American corn. EFE
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