Washington: The United States and Colombia narrowly avoided a trade war on Sunday after the White House announced that Colombia had agreed to accept deported migrants on U.S. military aircraft. The agreement came after President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs and sanctions on the South American nation, escalating tensions between the two allies.
The standoff began when Colombia initially refused to accept deportees transported on military flights, a key component of Trump’s stringent immigration crackdown. The refusal prompted the U.S. president to warn of severe economic penalties, including tariffs on Colombian exports and potential sanctions, if the matter was not resolved.
In a late-night statement on Sunday, the White House confirmed a resolution to the dispute. “The Government of Colombia has agreed to all of President Trump’s terms, including the unrestricted acceptance of all illegal aliens from Colombia returned from the United States, including on U.S. military aircraft, without limitation or delay,” the statement read.
The agreement marks a significant victory for the Trump administration’s immigration policy, which has faced criticism domestically and internationally for its hardline approach. President Trump defended his actions, stating that the U.S. will not tolerate non-cooperation from partner nations. “We’ve made it clear – countries that benefit from trade with the United States must also support our efforts to enforce immigration laws and secure our borders,” he said during a press briefing.
