United States President, Donald Trump, expressed outrage on Sunday after Colombia refused entry to two U.S. military flights carrying deported migrants, promising to implement severe sanctions and an “emergency 25% tariff” against the South American nation.
“Two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia,” Trump stated on Sunday, attributing the decision to Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro. “This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people,” he added, accusing Petro of putting “the National Security and Public Safety of the United States” at risk.
In retaliation, Trump ordered the immediate imposition of tariffs and enhanced inspections on Colombian goods.
“I am enacting emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States,” he declared, with a warning that the rate could double to 50% within a week. Further actions include a travel ban, visa cancellations for Colombian government officials, visa sanctions targeting party members and supporters, heightened customs inspections for Colombian nationals, and financial sanctions on Colombian banking institutions.
“These measures are just the beginning,” Trump warned, criticizing Colombia for allegedly violating its obligations to accept deportees. “We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
The incident followed Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s decision to block the U.S. military planes from landing.
In response, Petro emphasized the need for humane treatment of deported Colombians while acknowledging the importance of receiving them.
He demanded the use of civilian aircraft and improved protocols for handling deportees.
“We will receive our fellow citizens on civilian planes, without treating them like criminals,” Petro stated in a social media post. While reiterating that Colombian migrants could not remain in a country that did not want them, he insisted on their return “with dignity and respect for them and for our country.”
