Donald Trump scored an early victory after Colombia backed down in a dispute over repatriation flights.
The president had threatened to impose customs duties and sanctions on the South American country to punish it for its refusal to accept military planes carrying deportees.
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Trump, who was newly inaugurated, posted online about his intention to impose 25% tariffs on Colombian imports and immediately cancel visas for government officials.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro prevented two American military planes filled with their citizens from landing in the country on Sunday.
But late Sunday, just two hours after Trump's threat, the White House said Bogota had relented and agreed to accept the migrants.
Petro even offered his presidential plane “to facilitate the dignified return of citizens who were scheduled to arrive in the country this morning from deportation flights.”
This means that Washington will not impose its threatened sanctions while Trump continues his comprehensive campaign against immigration.
The White House said Colombia would accept migrants arriving on US military aircraft “without limits or delays.”
She added that draft orders imposing tariffs and sanctions on Colombia “will remain standby and will not be signed unless Colombia respects this agreement.”
Colombia said that dialogue with Washington would continue “to ensure the dignity of our citizens.”
The agreement was hailed as a victory for Trump, who regained the White House a week ago.
The statement added: “Today’s events show the world that America is respected again.
“President Trump…expects all other countries of the world to cooperate fully in accepting the deportation of their citizens who are illegally in the United States.”
Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo said Colombia had “overcome the impasse” with the United States just hours after Petro condemned what he called a “blockade” imposed by Trump.
Murillo and Colombia's ambassador to the United States are scheduled to travel to Washington in the coming days to follow up on the agreement.
Draft measures put forward by Washington – which have now been suspended – included imposing tariffs of 25% on all Colombian goods coming to the United States, which could reach 50% in one week.
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TikTok, the gender debate, the truth about JFK – the rest of Trump's to-do list
By Eli Doty, Foreign News Correspondent
Assassination of JFK
Trump promised to reveal a large number of secret documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King.
During his first term, Trump released some documents related to the fatal shooting of JFK in Dallas, Texas, in 1963.
Both King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated in 1968.
“In the coming days, we will make public the remaining records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other topics of great public interest,” he said that day. Before his inauguration.
Trump did not specify what type of documents he hoped to release, but the assassination of JFK in particular has been a long-term source of debate in the United States.
A widespread conspiracy theory implicated the federal government or the CIA in orchestrating and covering up his death.
TikTok ban
Trump has repeatedly criticized plans to ban TikTok in the United States – a social media app that is hugely popular with about 170 million American users.
After national security concerns were linked to its Chinese ownership, the app was briefly shut down across the country.
But just hours after Trump promised to bring it back after taking office, American users were able to get back online.
Yesterday, the application welcomed the return of the Americans, praising Trump as the reason for his return even before his official return to the Oval Office.
He then extended the 90-day period for its continued operation.
Discussing gender
Trump previously pledged to reimpose the ban on transgender military service, which he imposed during his first term and which Biden later rescinded.
“With the stroke of my pen, on day one, we will stop the transgender craze,” he said at a rally in December.
He is also expected to ban transgender women from competing in women's sports, saying: “And I will sign executive orders to end the sexual mutilation of children, and to remove transgender women from the military and from our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.
“And we will keep men out of women's sports. The same will be done on day one.”
Climate crisis
Trump also promised to study the cost of living and visit Los Angeles in the wake of recent devastating wildfires.
He is expected to overturn President Biden's climate policies, including pollution regulation or green jobs efforts.
It could also extend to bans on new wind energy projects or mandates for electric vehicles.
He has already withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement — just as he did in 2017, before Biden rejoins in 2021.
It also includes travel bans and visa cancellations on Colombian government officials; The emergency treasury and banking and financial sanctions.
Trump also threatened to direct enhanced border checks on Colombian citizens and Colombian goods.
This comes after Trump declared illegal immigration a national emergency and imposed a strict crackdown since taking office last Monday.
The US military was directed to assist with border security, issued a broad ban on asylum, and took steps to restrict citizenship for children born on US soil.
US military aircraft carried out two flights, each carrying about 80 migrants, to Guatemala on Friday.
Mexico also rejected a request last week to allow a US military plane to land the migrants.
