Two Colombian military planes were sent to the US to bring back Colombians who had been deported. This comes after a disagreement between the US and Colombia, where Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to allow US military planes to land with deported migrants.
Petro argued that the deportees were being treated poorly, like criminals, and insisted on ensuring they were treated with respect.
This dispute led to tension between the two countries, with former US President Trump threatening to impose heavy tariffs on Colombian goods.
However, diplomats from both countries managed to reach a compromise, and Colombia sent its own planes to pick up the deported citizens, ensuring they arrived in their home country without handcuffs, as shown in pictures shared by Petro.
Petro’s stance was driven by concerns over how deported migrants were being treated on US flights. He cited a video showing migrants being restrained during deportation to Brazil and made it clear he would not allow Colombians to be returned under similar conditions.
This disagreement caused anger in the US, with Trump threatening to impose 25% tariffs on Colombian imports and restricting visas.
Although the exact details of the agreement between the two governments remain unclear, Colombia has agreed to accept deported nationals, and the situation seems to be de-escalating. It is also uncertain whether Colombia will continue to send its military planes in the future.
The recent tension between Colombia and the US will likely be discussed at a summit where leaders from Central and South America will gather.
For more, BBC has reported that Petro emphasized Colombia’s commitment to ensuring deported citizens are treated with dignity, highlighting the country’s willingness to protect its citizens even in the face of political pressures.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgly1we7gx4o