In brief
The US State Department announced the revocation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's visa following his controversial statements advocating for US soldiers to disobey orders during a pro-Palestinian protest. Petro's actions drew sharp criticism from Washington, intensifying existing tensions between the leftist leader and the Trump administration. The incident highlights the complexities of US-Colombian relations, particularly amid ongoing discussions around drug trafficking and military operations in the region.
The US State Department said on Friday it would revoke the visa of Colombia's President Gustavo Petro.
The decision was based on the leftist leader's 'incendiary actions' during a pro-Palestinian street protest in New York, the State Department added.
Petro was already en route to Bogota from New York on Friday night, according to Colombian media cited by Agence France-Presse.
Earlier in the week, Petro likened the Trump administration's airstrikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea to an 'act of tyranny' in an interview with the BBC.
On his social media account, Petro shared a video of himself speaking Spanish to a large crowd through a megaphone on Friday.
His translator relayed his remarks urging 'nations of the world' to contribute soldiers for an army 'larger than that of the United States'.
'That is why, from here in New York, I ask all soldiers in the United States Army not to point their rifles at humanity,' he said.
'Disobey Trump's order! Obey the order of humanity!' Petro added.
In response, the State Department strongly criticised his action.
'Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged US soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence,' the State Department said in a post on X.
'We will revoke Petro's visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions,' it said.
Colombia's Interior Minister Armando Benedetti wrote on X on Friday night that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visa should have been revoked rather than Petro's.
'But since the empire protects him, it's taking it out on the only president who was capable enough to tell him the truth to his face.'
Petro, whose country is the world's biggest cocaine producer, has said he suspects some of those killed in the US boat strikes were Colombian.
Washington contends the actions are part of a US anti-drug operation off the coast of Venezuela, whose president Washington accuses of running a cartel.
Under Petro - the country's first ever left-wing leader - Colombia has seen worsening ties with the Trump administration.
The US also denied visas for Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and 80 Palestinian officials, blocking them from attending the UN General Assembly in New York this week.
