OPINION:
Not so long ago, an American president bowed to foreign potentates. President Obama made shows of obeisance to the likes of then-Chinese President Hu Jintao and Saudi King Abdullah.
President Biden appeared lost and confused on the world stage.
The manifestations of executive abasement ended last week.
Under orders from President Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have spread out over major cities to round up criminals who don’t belong in this country. The agency arrested 1,179 on Monday alone, in advance of their deportation.
Military cargo planes and civilian charter flights have been dropping off these lawbreakers in the country of origin. That didn’t sit well with the Colombian president, who blocked two repatriation flights from entering the country’s airspace on Sunday — even though his government had initially authorized them.
“The U.S. cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory,” President Gustavo Petro wrote on X on Sunday.
Without convening an interagency panel to discuss options like past administrations would have done, Mr. Trump announced a series of immediate sanctions against the South American socialist regime.
“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,” the 47th president wrote on Truth Social.
Those aggressive steps included an immediate 25% tariff on Colombian goods that would increase to 50% a week later and effectively exclude products like Colombian coffee and flowers from the U.S. market.
If the tariffs failed to persuade, the White House said it would target Mr. Petro’s wealthy friends by revoking their travel visas. Next, they would have been hit with financial sanctions, which could have been as draconian as those imposed on Russian oligarchs following the invasion of Ukraine.
“These measures are just the beginning,” Mr. Trump warned. “We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!”
Capitulation followed within a matter of hours.
“We will continue to welcome Colombians who return as deportees, guaranteeing them decent conditions as citizens with rights,” Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement, adding, “The Colombian government … has the presidential plane ready to facilitate the return of the compatriots who were to arrive in the country today in the morning on deportation flights.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the sanctions would be “held in reserve” in the event Colombia backs away from this agreement, which appears unlikely.
Mr. Trump’s policy recognizes the obvious: Colombia needs the United States more than the United States needs Colombia. Insisting on a country being responsible for its own citizens isn’t bullying. Colombia is the one acting like a bad neighbor by sending is crooks and gang members to our shores.
Guatemala and Mexico have willingly accepted deportation flights. According to the State Department, four planes carrying a total of 2,000 Mexican nationals have landed without issue. Even more have been returned by bus.
Finally, we have a commander in chief who is unapologetic and willing to stand up for U.S. interests in a way that communicates resolve to friends and foes around the world. Countries that oppose our legitimate demands now understand they will face swift consequences.
Perhaps this incident will even make Denmark reconsider its stance on Greenland.
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