First of Colombia planes carrying US deportees arrives in Bogota after Trump-Petro spat
The first of two Colombian air force planes carrying people who were deported from the United States arrived in Bogota early on Tuesday, local media said, paving the way for US President Donald Trump's administration to lift visa restrictions and other measures on Colombian citizens.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro averted an economic disaster at the 11th hour over the weekend after diplomats from his government and the US reached a deal on deportation flights, in a spat that had led both countries to threaten tariffs and the US to impose visa measures.
Colombia's foreign office had said on Monday the first plane would be carrying 110 Colombians from San Diego, California and a second would also arrive on Tuesday. Local media Caracol Radio and El Tiempo newspaper reported the first plane had already arrived.
Petro had vehemently objected to the use of US military planes to deport Colombians, saying his country's citizens were being treated like criminals, and refused to allow planes to land.
Trump responded with a pledge to impose a 25 percent tariff on all Colombian goods, set to rise to 50 percent in a week, as well as emergency treasury, banking and financial sanctions and visa restrictions on Colombian officials and citizens alike.
Petro threatened his own tariffs, but the two sides reached a deal late on Sunday night after tense negotiations, according to diplomats.
Trump officials have cheered the deal as a victory and said Trump used Colombia as an example of US power, while Colombian officials have said the agreement is a win for both sides.
Dozens of frustrated Colombians had long-awaited visa appointments at the US embassy in Bogota canceled on Monday.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
an hour ago
- Saudi Gazette
Trump doubles steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump announced Friday a sharp increase in tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, raising the rate from 25% to 50%, in a bid to bolster American manufacturing and close what he described as loopholes exploited by foreign competitors. Speaking at a rally held at a U.S. Steel facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trump told supporters and industry stakeholders: 'We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. We're going to bring it from 25% to 50%... which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States. Nobody's going to get around that.' Trump argued that the previous tariff rate allowed some importers to bypass the intended protections. 'At 25%, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50%, they can no longer get over the fence,' he said, calling it 'a great deal' for American producers. Addressing investors in the domestic steel sector, the president emphasized his commitment to economic nationalism and industrial revival, adding: 'I said the tariff to me is the most beautiful word in the dictionary.' — Agencies
Saudi Gazette
2 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
US defense secretary warns China poses 'real and imminent' threat to Indo-Pacific stability
SINGAPORE — US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning at a major international security forum on Saturday, calling China's military threat "real and imminent" while urging Indo-Pacific nations to step up their own defense efforts against mounting pressure from Beijing. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth accused China of aggressively preparing to invade Taiwan and using its growing influence in regions as far-flung as Latin America and the South China Sea to challenge global stability. 'China's army is rehearsing for the real deal,' Hegseth said. 'We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.' The remarks drew a sharp rebuke from China's delegation. Rear Adm. Hu Gangfeng dismissed the comments as 'groundless accusations,' claiming they aimed to 'provoke trouble, incite division, and stir up confrontation' in the Asia-Pacific region. Hegseth stressed that the United States remains committed to defending Taiwan, pointing to Beijing's recent military exercises that simulate blockades around the island. He described the Chinese military buildup as 'not just aspirational' but as clear evidence of daily training for invasion. He also flagged China's assertive moves in the South China Sea and warned of its ambitions over the Panama Canal and strategic infrastructure in Latin America. In response, the U.S. will continue strengthening its deterrence in the region — a goal pursued by previous administrations but often undermined by resource shifts to crises in the Middle East and Europe. The Trump administration recently diverted a Patriot missile battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East and redeployed Coast Guard assets to the U.S.-Mexico border. Pressed on this contradiction, Hegseth defended the decisions as necessary in the face of global threats but reiterated that the Indo-Pacific remains the strategic priority. Hegseth called on regional allies to match European defense spending goals of at least 5% of GDP, arguing that collective action was key to deterring Chinese aggression. 'We must all do our part,' he said. 'A strong, resolute and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage.' Australia's Defense Minister Richard Marles echoed that sentiment, saying, 'There is no effective balance of power in this region absent the United States, but we cannot leave it to the United States alone.' However, U.S. trade policy under Trump — including steep tariffs on Asia-Pacific nations — drew criticism. Marles noted the 'shock and disruption' of those tariffs, while European Union diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back on Hegseth's call for Europe to focus solely on its region. Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, attending the conference, clarified that the U.S. was not forcing nations to choose between Washington and Beijing, a point Hegseth himself blurred by warning that economic dependence on China 'deepens their malign influence.' Beijing sent a lower-level delegation to this year's summit, a symbolic snub linked to rising tensions over U.S. tariffs. In contrast, Hegseth said the U.S. was expanding its diplomatic and defense outreach to both traditional and non-traditional allies. 'We're opening our arms to countries across the spectrum,' he said, emphasizing that U.S. support would not hinge on alignment over cultural or climate issues. — Agencies
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Trump's Advice to Macron: ‘Make Sure the Door Remains Closed'
US President Donald Trump said his advice for French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been shown on a video through an open plane door being pushed in the face by his wife, was "make sure the door remains closed." Asked about the incident by reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said he had spoken to Macron in the wake of the video that showed his wife, Brigitte, giving him a shove on their plane. Macron has shrugged off the incident as a moment of playfulness. "He's fine," Trump said of Macron.
