U.S. President Donald Trump has announced visa restrictions and economic sanctions on Colombia after the country’s President, Gustavo Petro, blocked two flights carrying deportees from the United States.
The planes, transporting Colombian migrants deported from the U.S., were denied entry into Colombia. In a statement on Truth Social, Mr. Trump accused the Colombian government of endangering U.S. national security and outlined immediate retaliatory measures.
Trump stated in a post on Truth Social,” I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia.
“l have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” he added.
As part of the sanctions, Trump imposed visa restrictions on members of President Petro’s cabinet, his family, and political supporters. Additionally, he announced a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Colombia, which is set to increase to 50% after one week if no resolution is reached.
Enhanced customs and border inspections of Colombian nationals and cargo have also been ordered, citing national security concerns.
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President Pedro had, in a post on X earlier on Sunday, confirmed that he denied entry to two flights from the United States carrying deportees, that “the US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals so he made the decision to “deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory.”
“The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them,” Pedro added.
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