Left-wing Socialist president Gustavo Petro initially refused to accept deportation flights, but gave in shortly after Trump announced financial steps against Colombia.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro offered his presidential plane to repatriate migrants coming back from the U.S. on Sunday, following stern warnings made by President Donald Trump.
This change of position came almost immediately after Trump hit the Central American country with retaliatory measures in response to Petro's refusal to accept deportation flights. In a statement translated from Spanish, the Colombian government said that the plane will help facilitate a "dignified return."
"The Government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who were going to arrive in the country today in the morning, coming from deportation flights," the translated statement read.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP:
"I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people.
Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.
Photo: Left-wing Colombian president with Venezuelan dictator Maduro