
Published 27/01/2025 11:45 | Edited 27/01/2025 12:34
The community of Latin American and Caribbean states (Celac) called an emergency meeting next Thursday (30) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Under the rotary presidency of Xiomara Castro, the meeting will discuss migration, environment and the Latin American and Caribbean unit.
The announcement occurs amid the diplomatic tensions generated by the mass deportation of immigrants by the United States under the government of Donald Trump.
Last Sunday (26), the governments of the United States and Colombia starred in a diplomatic clash. Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused the landing of US military aircraft with deported migrants, claiming that citizens should be treated with dignity.
In response, Donald Trump announced 25% emergency tariffs on Colombian products, with the possibility of an increase to 50% in one week, and financial sanctions and visas against members of the Colombian government.
Petro, in turn, reacted by imposing similar tariffs on American products and released an open letter to Trump, in which he reaffirmed Colombian sovereignty and condemned Washington’s imperialist logic.
“You can try to knock me down, president, but the Americas and humanity will answer,” Petro wrote in a widely reverberated stretch by international vehicles.
The meeting schedule includes debates on the migratory crisis, especially the impacts of US migrant deportations. Xiomara Castro also highlighted the need to “reinforce the Latin American unit in the face of the challenges that impact our region”.
President Gustavo Petro has already confirmed presence at the meeting, which will be hybrid, with leaders participating in person and virtually. Representatives of Mexico, who also opposed the use of military planes for deportations, and Brazil, who recently criticized the treatment given to their citizens on deportation flights, should attend the meeting.
Celac’s summons reflects the efforts of Latin American countries to seek a collective response to Trump’s migratory policies, which have been generating diplomatic protests and tensions throughout the region. Under Honduras’ leadership, the organization seeks to reinforce regional integration as a way of resistance to the measures imposed by the United States.
Learn more: Petro faces Trump with historic letter and agreement avoids sanctions to Colombia
Learn more: Read the open letter from Gustavo Petro, president of Colombia, to Trump
Source: vermelho.org.br