8 months ago
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Tensions betwixt the United States and Colombia person escalated with the State Department announcing it was revoking a visa for Gustavo Petro, President of the Latin American country, aft helium participated successful a New York protestation wherever helium called connected American soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump’s orders.
The section said connected societal media that “we volition revoke Petro’s visa owed to his reckless and incendiary actions.”
Mr. Petro was visiting for the yearly U.N. Nations General Assembly. During a adjacent protestation Friday (September 26, 2025) implicit the warfare successful Gaza, helium said “I inquire each the soldiers of the United States’ army, don’t constituent your rifles against humanity” and “disobey the orders of Trump.”
It was unclear if the determination forced Mr. Petro, who returned to Colombia connected Saturday (September 27, 2025), to permission the U.S. earlier than expected. The State Department did not reply questions astir whether the revocation would impact aboriginal visits.
Mr. Petro, who has a past of speaking disconnected the cuff successful meandering, ideologically charged speeches, wrote connected societal media that “I don’t care” astir the punishment due to the fact that helium is besides a European citizen. That means helium does not request a visa to question to the U.S.
He besides said humanity indispensable beryllium escaped astir the world.
Colombia has agelong been a apical U.S. state successful Latin America, cooperating intimately connected the combat against cause trafficking. But determination person been repeated clashes betwixt Mr. Petro, a leftist and erstwhile rebel leader, and Mr. Trump’s Republican administration.
Earlier this year, Mr. Petro resisted deportation flights utilizing American subject aircraft, starring to a diplomatic situation arsenic Mr. Trump threatened to retaliate with higher tariffs and visa suspensions. The U.S. is Colombia’s largest trading partner, and Mr. Petro’s authorities relented, saying it would judge the planes.
The U.S. accused Colombia earlier this period of failing to cooperate with anti-narcotics efforts. Although the designation did not see sanctions that would person slashed U.S. assistance to the country, it was a crisp rebuke that frustrated Mr. Petro.
He said his state had mislaid the lives of “policemen, soldiers and regular citizens, trying to halt cocaine” from reaching the United States.
