US Revokes Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s Visa After Urging US Soldiers to Disobey Trump

The United States has announced the revocation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's visa following his participation in a pro-Palestinian protest in New York.

“The US State Department announced on Friday that it would revoke the visa of Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro due to his “incendiary actions” during a pro-Palestinian protest in New York”

Kahawatungu

During the protest, Petro urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders from then-President Donald Trump and called for the creation of a global armed force larger than the U.S. military to liberate Palestinians.

Kahawatungu

The U.S. State Department condemned Petro's remarks as "reckless and incendiary," leading to the visa revocation.

This decision has further strained U.S.-Colombia relations, which have been tense due to Petro's opposition to U.S. immigration policies and counternarcotics agreements.

Petro's speech at the protest coincided with the 80th U.N. General Assembly and has been a focal point of controversy.

He accused Trump of complicity in genocide in Gaza and called for legal action over U.S. missile strikes in the Caribbean.

tesaaworld

This has been reported as part of a broader pattern of Petro's vocal criticism of U.S. and Israeli policies, particularly regarding the Gaza conflict.

The incident has highlighted the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and Colombia, with Petro's leftist government often at odds with the Trump administration's policies.

The revocation of Petro's visa has sparked criticism from various quarters.

“The United States Department of State has declared that it will revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of engaging in “reckless and incendiary actions” during a Palestine solidarity speech he made in New York City”

Maktoob Media

Colombia's Interior Minister suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visa should be revoked instead.

This reflects the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict and the international community's divided stance on Palestinian statehood.

The U.S. decision to revoke Petro's visa is seen by some as part of a larger pattern of cracking down on pro-Palestinian voices.

This pattern is also evidenced by the denial of a visa to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Petro's response to the visa revocation has been defiant, as he returned to Colombia and stated that international law grants him immunity to attend the U.N.

He also noted that as a European citizen, he can still travel to the U.S. without a visa.

Arab News PK

This incident underscores the complex diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Colombia, with Petro's administration often clashing with the Trump administration over issues such as migration and drug trafficking.

Despite these tensions, the U.S. remains Colombia's largest trading partner.