Yesterday’s clash between President Donald Trump and Colombian President and communist Gustavo Petro over the repatriation of illegal immigrants was nothing short of a geopolitical showdown, a battle of wills that ended with Trump emerging victorious between gold holes. It was the political manifestation of FAFO from the Trump arsenal of dealbreakers.
It started when Pedro turned away two U.S. military planes filled with Colombian migrants, with the president defiantly proclaiming that his country would not accept such treatment of its citizens. He lambasted the U.S. for using military aircraft, insisting that these were not criminals but people deserving of dignity in their return.
In a move that sent shockwaves through international relations, Trump fired back (from the golf course) with a ferocity characteristic of his administration. On Truth Social, he unleashed a storm of economic sanctions: a 25% tariff on Colombian goods, set to double if not complied with in a week. He sealed the borders further with a travel ban on Colombian officials and their allies, hinting at even darker measures like visa cancellations and exhaustive customs checks.
Petro, feeling the economic noose tightening around Colombia’s neck, responded with a tariff of his own, but the stakes were too high, and the Colombian economy was on the brink. The two nations faced off, with Petro trying to stand firm on humanitarian grounds but visibly shaken by the economic warfare.
Colombia, cornered by Trump’s unyielding stance, had no choice but to bend. The Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, announced a capitulation, agreeing to accept the deportation flights under Trump’s draconian terms. In a dramatic turn of abject supplication, Colombia even offered its presidential plane to aid in the deportation, a clear sign of defeat!
With Colombia backing down, Trump declared victory, suspending his tariffs and visa sanctions, although keeping some restrictions as a reminder of his power. The move was celebrated by some as a masterstroke of diplomacy through intimidation, with Trump painting the scenario as a testament to America’s strength and resolve against what he termed “ungrateful allies.”
Clearly the region is fearful. The Honduran president his also threatening the US claiming that we pay nothing for the US bases stationed there. (We give them long millions in aid.) Right now, playing “chicken” with Trump is not to be recommended. He has embraced the “no more Mr. Nice Guy” persona and is seriously committed to his American First agenda, leading off with illegal immigration.
Latin America is quaking.
BREAKING: The President of Honduras just called an emergency meeting of all Latin American and Caribbean countries to figure out how to cope with President Trump after Colombia's tactics completely BACKFIRED.
— George (@BehizyTweets) January 27, 2025
An inside official told me the meeting was called "by instruction of… pic.twitter.com/HVXVO41Yff
Funny take!
To fully understand just how remarkable today’s exchange with Colombia was, you need to understand how Washington DC has traditionally worked through these sorts of issues, and the different way it works now under Trump.
— Cynical Publius (@CynicalPublius) January 26, 2025
I’ll illustrate.
Traditional Approach:
1. Colombia…