A diplomatic standoff between the United States and Colombia erupted over deportation flights, underscoring the growing anxiety among Latin American leaders about a second Trump presidency. The dispute, which unfolded over social media, momentarily strained the historically strong US-Colombia relationship.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro sparked controversy when he ordered two US deportation flights turned back midair. His decision came in response to reports that Colombian deportees were being returned in handcuffs on military flights, a move Petro deemed unacceptable. Announcing the block on X, Petro directed his statement at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, declaring, “I will never allow Colombians to be brought in handcuffs.” His defiance was short-lived, however, as he was soon forced to backtrack.
The diplomatic fallout was immediate. Colombia, a major recipient of US military aid, had long cooperated with deportation policies. Petro’s unexpected resistance sent shockwaves across the region, where many leaders were already bracing for Trump’s hardline immigration stance. The US president has pledged mass deportations, economic crackdowns on leftist governments, and increased military action against drug cartels—an approach that has fueled tensions across Latin America.
Some regional leaders quickly voiced support for Petro’s stance. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel praised Colombia’s leader for standing up to what he called “discriminatory treatment and blackmail.” Had Petro successfully defied the US, it might have emboldened other nations to follow suit, complicating Trump’s efforts to force compliance with deportation mandates.
However, Petro miscalculated the intensity of the US response. Already grappling with internal crises—corruption scandals and escalating violence between militant groups—he may have seen the confrontation as a strategic distraction. But unlike Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, who advised maintaining a “cool head” in dealings with Trump, Petro opted for direct confrontation. He escalated tensions with inflammatory posts, accusing Trump of viewing Colombians as “inferior” and stating, “I don’t shake hands with white slavers.”
The backlash from Washington was swift. Trump administration officials made it clear that public defiance would not be tolerated. “You can’t go out there and publicly defy us in that way,” an official warned. Economic pressure retaliation followed, with the US imposing a 25% tariff on Colombian exports. Fearing economic repercussions and a loss of US support, Petro quickly reversed course, ending hopes that he would spearhead an anti-Trump coalition in Latin America.
The incident served as a cautionary tale for other leaders in the region. Washington’s swift and heavy-handed response demonstrated that Trump’s foreign policy would rely heavily on economic leverage and diplomatic pressure. The episode also highlighted Latin America’s vulnerability to US policies, given the region’s close economic and geographic ties.
By Monday, Colombia announced it would send its own military planes to retrieve the deportees—an unmistakable sign of Petro’s retreat. While tensions may simmer down, the broader lesson remains: navigating Trump’s administration requires careful strategy, not hasty defiance.
