The decision was taken in retaliation against the decision of the Government of Gustavo Petro to prevent the entry of North American military planes transporting deported people
The United States announced the suspension of visa issuance in Colombia, in retaliation against the decision of the Government of Gustavo Petro to prevent the entry of North American military planes transporting deported people.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered “the immediate suspension of visa issuance at the consular section of the US Embassy in Bogotá,” the State Department announced in a statement released on Sunday.
The North American Government justified this measure by the refusal of the Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, to “accept two repatriation flights that he had previously authorized”.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, had already, on his social network Truth Social, announced the ban on issuing visas to Colombian Government officials, allies and supporters of Gustavo Petro, members of his party and family members.
“These measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens,” concluded the State Department.
Colombia prevented the entry of military planes from the United States of America that were transporting deported people, with Petro explaining on the social network X that they have always accepted receiving deportees, but will never accept this happening on military flights and with people in handcuffs.
The Colombian Presidency later announced the sending of the presidential plane to “facilitate the dignified return” of immigrants deported from the USA.
In reaction, Trump announced that he will apply tariffs, visa restrictions and other retaliatory measures against Colombia.
Among the retaliatory measures is the application of emergency tariffs of 25% on all products entering the United States from Colombia, which will be increased to 50% within a week.
Hours later, Gustavo Petro announced that he will move forward with reciprocity in the rates that Washington imposes.
The two countries have had partnerships on the ground for decades in the context of combating drug trafficking.
Petro confirmed that he will participate, on Thursday, in the emergency meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) called by his Honduran counterpart, Xiomara Castro, due to the diplomatic crisis between the South American country and the United States.
“I am personally going to Honduras to help with this meeting of Latin American presidents. It has not been announced, but in a matter of weeks I will take over the presidency of Celac, the Latin American bloc,” said Petro, in a message on X.
Xiomara Castro, who holds the rotating presidency of Celac, called the organization’s heads of state to an urgent meeting in which they will discuss topics such as “migration, environment and Latin American and Caribbean unity”.
The Honduran President indicated that the meeting “was scheduled in a hybrid format” and that Petro “confirmed his in-person participation in Tegucigalpa”, the capital of Honduras.
