A public spat between former President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro over deportation flights has reignited tensions and threatened a trade war. The dispute arose when Trump threatened tariffs on Colombian imports if the country didn't accept US military planes full of deported Colombians. Petro initially resisted, but ultimately agreed to lift his ban on such flights, though not before issuing a strong statement criticizing Trump.
A recent public exchange on social media between former US President Donald Trump and Colombia n President Gustavo Petro has brought renewed focus on the latter. The dispute began when Trump, resorting to his favored geopolitical tactic, threatened to impose tariffs of up to 50% on all Colombia n imports if the country did not accept US military planes full of deported Colombia ns as part of Trump's deportation efforts. This threatened to spark a trade war between the US and Colombia .
The situation was de-escalated after Petro seemingly agreed to lift his ban on flights carrying deported Colombians allegedly entering the US illegally. However, not before he issued a strong statement criticizing Trump's 'greed', defending Colombia's sovereignty, and vowing to match any tariffs imposed.Petro's Sunday response on X to Trump is characteristic of his outspoken approach on social media. Petro, Colombia's first leftist president since 2022, rose to power by promising to address the country's long-standing issues of violence, human rights abuses, and poverty. Despite past apprehensions about left-leaning politicians due to concerns about their stance on violence, Petro's background as a former member of the M-19 guerrilla group, before transitioning to traditional politics, resonated with voters.While Petro's election was celebrated domestically, it was met with concern by US conservatives. Colombia has traditionally been considered a key US ally in Latin America, and the US-Colombia free trade agreement, responsible for $33.8 billion in trade in 2023 (a quarter of Bogota's exports), solidified this relationship. However, Petro has pursued controversial diplomatic initiatives often diverging from Washington's geopolitical interests. He has restored diplomatic ties with Venezuela, whose leader, Nicolás Maduro, is criticized for his connections to adversaries like China, Russia, Iranian proxies, and Cuba. Petro has also been vocal in his criticism of Israel, condemning their actions against Palestinians in the wake of the Hamas attacks in October 2023. This stance, coupled with his defiance against Trump, suggests potential friction between the nations' leaders
Politics Trade War Deportation Colombia Donald Trump Gustavo Petro US-Colombia Relations Latin America
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