The White House announced on Sunday that Colombia has agreed to accept the repatriation of its citizens on military flights, following threats of major sanctions from President Donald Trump.
While Colombia has not yet confirmed the White House’s statement, the U.S. government mentioned that it would suspend most planned tariffs and sanctions on the country. According to the White House, Colombia has now agreed to accept the return of all illegal Colombian nationals, including those deported via U.S. military aircraft, without any delay or restrictions.
“This is a clear indication that America’s influence is being respected again,” the statement read. “President Trump will continue to strongly defend our sovereignty and expects all countries to cooperate fully in accepting their citizens who are illegally in the U.S.”
The agreement comes after tension between the U.S. and Colombia. Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a left-leaning leader, had previously opposed the use of military flights for deporting Colombians from the U.S., stating that he would only accept deportations “with dignity” on civilian planes.
