After Colombia attempted to block deportation flights from the United States, the two nations fought each other.
Andrea Petro, the daughter of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, has made disparaging remarks about US President Donald Trump following the White House’s threat of tariffs on the South American nation. Ms. Andrea suggested on social media that for each Colombian deported, the country should send “gringos”—a colloquial term used to refer to Americans—back to the United States.
Ms. Petro posted on X (previously Twitter) on Monday, January 27, saying, “We will return a gringo from the Poblado for every Colombian deported.”
She shared a meme of dolphins leaping from the sea beneath a rainbow-crested sky with the pretty cheeky statement. According to a New York Post article, Ms. Petro was purportedly alluding to Medellin’s red light district, which has developed into a popular destination for American tourists looking for sex.
A 36-year-old US citizen was apprehended in a downtown hotel room in April of last year with two juvenile girls, ages 12 and 13. President Petro appealed to the US government to have the accused extradited after the American fled Colombia before the country’s officials could capture him.
What is going on between the United States and Colombia?
After Colombia attempted to block deportation flights from the United States, the two nations fought each other. The Left-leaning Mr. Petro, who was elected president of Colombia in 2022, declared that his administration was prepared to carry the migrants “with dignity” to the United States on its presidential plane.
Mr. Petro stated that he was prepared to permit civilian US flights carrying deported migrants to land once the US military planes were sent back, provided that the passengers were not treated “like criminals.” He denied conducting raids to apprehend and deport the more over 15,000 unauthorised Americans that reside in his nation. He advised them to “regularise their situation” instead.
Later, the White House claimed that once Colombia accepted its requirements, the Trump administration lifted the penalties. Bogota will continue to receive Colombians who return as deportees, according to Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo.
In her victory statement, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said, “Today’s events make clear to the world that America is respected again.”
In a similar vein, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday that “it serves the world well to look at” the Colombia dispute.
