In an unexpected twist in the tense relationship between the governments of Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro, the United States and Colombia signed a new security cooperation agreement that includes the exchange of biometric information to curb irregular migration and combat organized crime. The signing took place on Thursday in Bogota, during the official visit of US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who met with Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia and President Petro.

The agreement, presented as a "declaration of intent", comes only weeks after the diplomatic incident that pitted the two presidents against each other. In January, the Colombian president rejected the landing of a flight with Colombian deportees, denouncing mistreatment of his countrymen. Trump's response was immediate: he threatened to impose tariffs on Colombian products, which escalated the bilateral tension. The conflict was resolved with an agreement that allowed the resumption of repatriation flights without the use of shackles.

Now, the new security alliance seems to mark a temporary detente between the two nations. Noem assured that the biometric collaboration has already produced tangible results, with more than 1,700 deportations and 1,000 arrests linked to the technology. "It will reaffirm our strong, resilient and enduring partnership," the official said. Foreign Minister Sarabia, for her part, stressed that the agreement represents one more step in the consolidation of a "friendly" relationship between Colombia and the United States.

However, the speed of the diplomatic shift and the nature of the agreement raise new questions about the direction of the bilateral relationship and its implications:

Is Colombia assuming the role of "extended border" for the United States?

The exchange of biometric data turns Colombia into a pre-checkpoint for northbound migration. This is in line with the border externalization strategy promoted by Washington, which seeks to contain migratory flows in transit countries. Is Colombia prepared to assume this role? What commitments has it made exactly?

What guarantees do migrants have regarding the use of their biometric data?

The agreement has not been accompanied by public information on mechanisms for the protection of personal data or the rights of affected persons. In contexts of persecution, violence or criminalization, the misuse of this data could have serious consequences. It is worth remembering that President Trump is using the extraordinary legal framework defined in the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to make summary decisions with immigrants that the government considers a threat. There have been many allegations that deportations are made based on the number and type of tattoos that detainees have, for example.

What implications does this have for Colombia's technological sovereignty?

Installing and operating highly complex biometric systems requires infrastructure, training and resources. Will the U.S. provide the technology? If so, how much control will it have over its use, storage and purposes?

Could the biometric agreement become a political bargaining chip?

In a context marked by tariff tensions and ideological disagreements, some analysts warn that this type of cooperation could be used as leverage in future negotiations. The speed with which this pact was signed after the January crisis raises suspicions.

For now, the agreement represents a new chapter in the complex relationship between Trump and Petro, two leaders who do not hide their differences but who, for strategic reasons, seem willing to collaborate on key issues. Time will tell whether this surprise turn is a temporary truce or the beginning of a new stage in regional diplomacy.
With information from AFP