Colombian President Gustavo Petro engaged in a major diplomatic standoff with his U.S counterpart Donald Trump on Sunday after preventing two U.S. military planes carrying deportees from landing in the South American country. The decision came in response to what Petro described as the mistreatment of deported migrants and set off a day of tense negotiations that threatened Colombia's economy and its relationship with its largest trading partner.
The standoff unfolded against a tense backdrop, with high-level diplomatic efforts working to prevent a collapse in U.S.-Colombian relations, as reported by the New York Times and local outlet El Tiempo. Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia called for calm, while Petro's allies and adversaries worked behind the scenes to resolve the standoff. At least three former presidents, including Álvaro Uribe, a longtime political rival of Petro, intervened by reportedly reaching out to U.S. contacts, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
"Despite the difficulties we had, it's proof that diplomatic channels continue to be the best way to sort out differences," Colombia's ambassador to the United States, Daniel García-Peña, told the NYT.
The crisis stemmed in part from a recent change in U.S. policy allowing military planes to be used for deportations, a shift Petro reportedly opposed. Former Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo explained that Petro objected to both the use of military planes and the practice of handcuffing deportees.
"The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants like criminals," Petro wrote on social media on Sunday. The Trump administration responded swiftly, with President Trump threatening to impose steep tariffs on Colombian goods, rising from 25% to 50% within days. He also announced financial sanctions and suspended visas for Colombian officials, declaring, "These measures are just the beginning." Petro retaliated by threatening with opposing measures, saying, "You will never dominate us."
Officials in charge of backchannels continued negotiating while the presidents escalated the confrontation. However, tensions got to a point where Colombian officials held what El Tiempo described as a "tough" conversation with President Petro and asked him to let them handle the matter. Petro stepped back and an hour later an agreement was reached.
By late Sunday, both nations announced the agreement. Colombia's Foreign Ministry announced that the impasse had been overcome, while U.S. officials assured Colombian authorities that deportees would not be handcuffed aboard flights or photographed and would be accompanied by Department of Homeland Security officials instead of military personnel.
The Trump administration hailed the resolution as a win, stating, "America is respected again." Petro, however, continued to voice his criticism, arguing that the solution to unlawful migration lies in addressing root causes rather than punitive deportations.
For now, both sides appear keen to avoid further escalation, with Colombian officials pledging to implement protocols to prevent similar confrontations. The first plane carrying Colombian deportees landed in Colombia on Tuesday morning.
The deportees included children, elderly individuals, and adults who had been denied asylum or caught in irregular migration situations. According to Astrid Cáceres, director of Colombia's Family Welfare Institute interviewed by El Tiempo, 26 passengers were minors.
The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has called for an "emergency" meeting of member states after the tariff standoff between the United States and Colombia on Sunday. "Migration" and "Latin American and Caribbean unity" are two of the three topics listed on the agenda, the other one being "Environment."
The meeting was called by Honduran President Xiomara Castro, the bloc's current holder of the rotational presidency. It will take place on Thursday morning, with Castro already confirming that Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who had requested the meeting amid the confrontation with the Trump administration, will take part in it.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
