The White House said tonight that Colombian President Gustavo Petro has agreed to President Donald Trump's terms amid a standoff over deportation flights from the United States, APA reports citing NBC News.
Earlier today, Trump said he would impose tariffs and other retaliatory measures on Colombia after it blocked two military deportation flights from the United States. Petro responded by announcing a 25% tariff on U.S. goods.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that the Colombian government has agreed to Trump's terms after the White House threatened tariffs over Colombia's blocking military deportation flights.
"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," Leavitt said in a statement.
She added that drafted actions on tariffs and sanctions would "be held in reserve, and not signed, unless Colombia fails to honor this agreement."
The State Department's visa sanctions and Customs and Border Protection's enhanced inspections "will remain in effect until the first planeload of Colombian deportees is successfully returned," she added.
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said in remarks delivered in Spanish that the country "will continue to receive Colombians deported, guaranteeing them dignified conditions as citizens subject to rights."
