Colombia yields and sends military plane to repatriate migrants after Trump's threats
Colombia sends military plane to repatriate migrants following Petro's rejection of U.S. planes and Trump's threats.
The diplomatic tension between Colombia and the United States reached a peak this Sunday, following the decision of Colombian President Gustavo Petro to refuse the entry of U.S. military planes that would repatriate a group of deported migrants. This act, motivated by the demand for a more dignified treatment of migrants, was quickly responded by President Donald Trump with a battery of economic and diplomatic threats that led to an inevitable outcome: the mobilization of the Colombian Air Force to take on the task.
The crisis erupted when Petro denied the entry of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the United States Air Force (USAF), arguing that U.S. protocol did not guarantee respect for the human rights of migrants. Through his social networks, Petro insisted on the need to establish dignified treatment protocols for repatriates.
Trump's response: sanctions and economic pressure
It was not long before Trump reacted with a series of threats that escalated the conflict. The measures contemplated included:
- Emergency tariffs of 25% on all Colombian products, with an increase to 50% within a week.
- Travel bans and revocation of visas for Colombian government officials, allies and supporters.
- Visa sanctions for members of the ruling party and their family members.
- Enhanced inspections of Colombian citizens and goods for “national security” reasons.
- Full application of sanctions under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), affecting key sectors such as banking and finance.
Amid the threat of economic isolation, Bogota decided to avoid an escalation and agreed to use its own resources to repatriate the migrants.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced on Sunday that an agreement had been reached with the U.S. administration. According to his statements: “We have overcome the impasse with the U.S. government”.
Colombian Air Force to the rescue
The result of these negotiations is that the Colombian Air Force will be in charge of the repatriation flights. As a first step, the Colombian government made available the presidential plane, FAC-0001, for the dignified repatriation of migrants detained in the US.
Finally, it was decided that two B737-700 aircraft will pick up the Colombian migrants. FAC-1219 will flyto San Diego, California, while FAC-1222 is bound for Houston, Texas. Highly trained military doctors will be available to accompany the passengers during the flight.
An uncertain future for regional relations
This episode not only highlights the fragility of the current relationship between Bogotá and Washington—historically close—but also sets a precedent for how the Trump administration exerts pressure on Latin American governments through its well-known big stick diplomacy. In addition to Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, and Panama have faced similar tensions, creating a climate of uncertainty in the region.
Apasionado por la aviación, la historia, la política y la defensa. Editor-in-Chief en Aviacionline Defensa, combinando estos conocimiento para ofrecer un contenido valioso sobre temas estratégicos y de seguridad.
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