In brief
The US State Department has revoked the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro due to his provocative actions during a pro-Palestinian protest in New York, where he urged US soldiers to disobey orders. This choice reflects the deteriorating relationship between Colombia and the Trump administration, which has seen Petro's hardline stances on US military actions in the region. Colombian officials have criticized the decision, suggesting it is politically motivated.
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Minister Armando Benedetti wrote on X on Friday night that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visa should have been revoked rather than Petro's.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.
