Colombia narrowly avoided a potentially damaging trade war with the United States by agreeing to accept deported migrants on U.S. military planes. The agreement follows a series of heated exchanges and threats from President Donald Trump, including the imposition of steep tariffs and visa restrictions.
Colombia agrees to U.S. demands
After initially blocking two U.S. military planes carrying deportees, Colombia announced Sunday that it had agreed to all terms set by President Trump, including the “unrestricted acceptance” of deported Colombian migrants. Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo assured the public that deportees would be treated with dignity upon their return.
“We will continue to receive Colombians who return as deportees, guaranteeing them decent conditions as citizens subject to rights,” Murillo said in a televised statement. He confirmed that U.S. deportation flights had resumed and that Colombia’s presidential plane was being prepared to assist with repatriation efforts.
The White House issued its own statement, celebrating the agreement as a victory for Trump’s immigration policies. While the threat of tariffs on Colombian imports was withdrawn, visa sanctions and customs inspections will remain in place until the first flight of deportees is successfully returned.
Read more: Who is Mariann Edgar Budde, the bishop who made a plea to Trump and angered the new president
“Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again,” the White House said. “President Trump will continue to fiercely protect our nation’s sovereignty.”
This marked the first instance of Trump taking significant action against a foreign country over immigration since taking office.
Fallout from the standoff
The diplomatic feud escalated quickly after Colombia initially refused entry to the U.S. military planes, despite prior authorization for the flights. Colombian President Gustavo Petro disputed the approval and accused the U.S. of treating migrants like criminals. This prompted Trump to issue threats of steep tariffs on Colombian goods, travel bans, and the revocation of visas for Colombian officials.
Petro responded with his own threats of retaliatory tariffs and criticized Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on social media. However, by Sunday evening, both sides had reached an agreement, averting a trade war that could have severely impacted Colombia’s economy.
While Colombia is not a major trading partner for the U.S., its exports of coffee, metals, and minerals are significant. Tariffs on these goods would have driven up prices for American consumers and hurt Colombia’s economy, particularly its coffee and flower industries, which support hundreds of thousands of families.
Maria Claudia Lacouture, head of the Colombo-American Chamber of Commerce, warned that U.S. tariffs would have devastating consequences. “In coffee alone, more than 500,000 families depend on this sector. In flower farming, thousands of single mothers would lose their livelihood,” she said.
Broader implications
The standoff between Colombia and the U.S. underscores the potential challenges other nations may face as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration crackdown. Trump has already threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico over border issues, signaling a tough stance on deportations.
The U.S. has also expanded its use of military aircraft to repatriate recent border crossers, with daily flights expected to continue as a message to other nations. “It’s sending a strong signal to the world. Our borders closed,” said White House border czar Tom Homan.
Other countries have voiced concerns over the U.S. approach. Brazil joined Colombia in condemning the treatment of deportees on U.S. military flights, describing conditions as “degrading.” Brazilian authorities reported that a flight carrying 88 handcuffed deportees landed in the wrong city, citing poor aircraft conditions, including a malfunctioning air conditioning system.
Despite these controversies, the Trump administration appears determined to press ahead with its immigration enforcement efforts, leveraging economic and diplomatic pressure to ensure compliance from other nations. For Colombia, avoiding a trade war may have preserved its relationship with the U.S., but it also highlights the delicate balance countries must maintain in navigating Trump’s policies.
