Trump begins the “subjugation”: Is Colombia the first “victim”? Is this dangerous?

Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, has signaled that relations with the country he leads will be complicated and fraught with contradictions in the next four years. His recent actions suggest a more aggressive stance on international diplomacy, marked by contentious exchanges with world leaders. For instance, reports surfaced of Trump engaging in a tense conversation with Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, over the issue of Greenland. Meanwhile, his administration launched what is being described as the largest deportation campaign in U.S. history, setting the stage for further international scandals. This deportation initiative has involved sending illegal immigrants, often stigmatized with accusations of discrimination, to countries like Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, and Colombia. However, the campaign has faced significant challenges from the outset, particularly with Mexico and Colombia refusing to allow U.S. military aircraft to land for deportation flights. Interestingly, Trump’s response has not been directed at Mexico, which was the first to block the flights, but instead at Colombia. In retaliation, the U.S. President imposed a “25 percent tariff increase” on Colombian goods, signaling a potential shift in U.S.-Colombia relations. This move is seen as a powerful tool in Trump’s foreign policy arsenal, with the threat of additional sanctions hanging over Bogotá. The question remains: Is this a dangerous escalation? If Colombia and other nations continue to resist U.S. deportation policies, Trump's punitive measures could provoke further diplomatic tensions. As his administration enters its next phase, many are wondering what other countries may find themselves targeted by similar tactics. The growing pattern of diplomatic and economic pressure may not only strain relationships with Latin American nations but also undermine the broader stability of U.S. foreign relations.

Illegal immigration deportations under Trump

Typically, immigrants—whether legal or illegal—are deported on civilian flights. However, under President Trump's mass deportation initiative, this process has taken a starkly different turn. Reports from last week revealed that 460 illegal immigrants were arrested on a Wednesday night. The following day, images surfaced showing 538 immigrants being handcuffed and loaded onto U.S. military aircraft for deportation. Trump’s press secretary, Caroline Leavitt, referred to the deportees as "illegal criminals," emphasizing that 373 of them had been involved in criminal activities, including suspected terrorists and members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Trump had criticized during his campaign for allegedly turning Aurora, Colorado, into a "war zone." Additionally, some of the deportees were accused of sexual crimes involving minors. This marked the beginning of what is being called an unprecedented and historic deportation campaign, which is expected to remain a central priority for Trump’s second term. Reports indicate that one of the military planes carrying these deportees departed from an army airfield in El Paso, Texas, heading to Guatemala. Not one, but two military aircraft were used, each carrying around 80 illegal immigrants.

The Trump administration’s approach to deportations continued over the weekend, with Brazil receiving a civilian deportation flight. While this flight was not military, it still carried a heavy burden for the deportees. According to reports, 88 Brazilians were handcuffed and accompanied by 16 security agents and eight crew members. However, the treatment of these deportees was reportedly inhumane. Several of the Brazilians complained of severe mistreatment, including being denied water and access to restrooms for up to four hours. Some also described the air in the plane as unbearably stuffy, making breathing difficult. Brazil’s Foreign Ministry condemned the conditions on the deportation flight and demanded an explanation from the United States government. The controversy surrounding the treatment of these deportees has raised serious questions about the human rights implications of Trump’s mass deportation policies and the treatment of immigrants during the process.

Trump's deportation policy "explodes" in Colombia

It didn’t take long for President Trump’s controversial deportation policy to escalate into a political and economic scandal. On January 26, a serious confrontation erupted between the United States and Colombia after Colombia refused to allow two U.S. military aircraft carrying deported migrants to land on its territory. Colombia became the second Latin American country, after Mexico, to deny U.S. military deportation flights. In response, Trump announced retaliatory measures against Colombia. He chose not to target Mexico, the United States’ largest trading partner, but warned that both Mexico and Canada would face similar "punishments" on February 1 if they did not take sufficient steps to address the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States. As for Colombia, a key trading partner, Trump swiftly threatened to impose a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods entering the U.S. He also announced a range of additional sanctions, including a travel ban on Colombian government officials, the cancellation of visas, and financial and banking restrictions. Enhanced border checks on Colombian citizens and goods were also set to begin, with Trump warning that these measures were "just the beginning."

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s refusal to accept the deportation flights posed a national security threat to the U.S. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that although Petro initially authorized the flights, the decision was reversed while the planes were already in the air. Colombia, however, did not back down quietly. In retaliation, the Colombian government initially threatened to impose a 50% tariff on U.S. goods, but President Petro later ordered the Commerce Minister to raise tariffs by 25%. Petro also took a bold stance against Trump’s deportation policy, announcing that Colombia would welcome migrants deported on civilian flights. Petro emphasized that while there are 15,660 Americans in Colombia who lack legal immigration status, Colombia would never conduct raids to forcibly return Americans to the U.S. in handcuffs. Petro’s response made it clear that he was demanding a more humane treatment of Colombian migrants, rejecting the militarized deportation flights favored by Trump. By opting to use military aircraft, Trump appears to be signaling that illegal immigration is a significant national security threat—a strategy likely intended to intensify the tone of his deportation policy. With this escalation, Trump's approach to immigration continues to spark tensions on both a diplomatic and humanitarian level, raising concerns over the future of U.S.-Latin American relations.

Fire that burned out quickly

The Colombia-U.S. conflict, which flared up over the issue of deportations, was swiftly resolved in favor of the United States. On January 26, before any serious trade war could begin, the issue was settled. The White House announced that Colombia had agreed to all of President Trump’s demands, including the unconditional acceptance of deported migrants from the U.S. on military aircraft. This agreement effectively ended the standoff, with the Colombian government conceding to the terms laid out by the Trump administration.

“The Colombian government has accepted all the conditions of President Trump, including the unconditional and immediate acceptance of all illegal migrants deported by the U.S. on military aircraft,” the White House document stated.

Later in the day, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo issued a statement declaring that the standoff with the U.S. had been resolved. However, the United States made it clear that it would closely monitor Colombia’s compliance with the terms of the agreement. A draft order for trade tariffs and sanctions was held in reserve, with a warning that such measures would be implemented if Colombia violated the terms. Visa restrictions for Colombian officials and heightened border controls for Colombian citizens and goods remained in place until Colombia began accepting the first deported migrants. The outcome was hardly surprising given the deep economic ties between the two countries. The U.S. is Colombia’s number one trading partner, while Colombia ranks just 23rd in terms of U.S. trade. Approximately one-third of Colombia’s imports—amounting to about 4% of its GDP—are tied to trade with the U.S. Given these dependencies, it was clear that Colombia could not afford a trade war with the U.S., as raising tariffs on Colombian goods would likely lead to a serious economic downturn.

In short, Trump scored a swift victory in his first “war” of his second term. However, the resolution of this dispute sends a worrying message to the international community. Trump’s aggressive tactics and willingness to use economic pressure to achieve his goals signal that more contentious actions may follow. Next on his agenda are the contentious issues of Greenland and the Panama Canal—claims that many view as nothing less than acts of aggression.