The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that it would revoke the visa of Colombia's President Gustavo Petro due to what they described as his incendiary actions during a pro-Palestinian street protest in New York.
According to Colombian media, Petro had already begun his trip back to Bogota by Friday night. Earlier, he had made strong comments likening 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, Petro shared a video showing him addressing a large crowd in Spanish through a megaphone, where he urged the nations of the world to form a military force larger than that of the United States. He dramatically called for U.S. soldiers to disobey orders: Disobey Trump's order! Obey the order of humanity!
In response, the State Department expressed strong disapproval, stating Petro's actions incited violence and warranted the revocation of his visa. They reaffirmed their stance through a social media post that highlighted his controversial remarks.
The situation escalated further when Colombia's Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, took to social media, arguing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visa should have been revoked instead, suggesting it was hypocritical for the U.S. to target Petro over his comments.
Petro, Colombia's first left-wing president, has faced increasing tensions with the Trump administration, particularly given Colombia's position as the world's leading cocaine producer. He has voiced concerns regarding casualties potentially arising from U.S. military operations, claiming that some of the victims in the anti-drug operations could have been Colombian.
This incident not only reflects the contentious relationship between the U.S. and Colombia under Petro's administration but also underscores the complexities of international diplomacy, especially concerning countries involved in drug trade and military interventions. The U.S. is also seen to be exercising similar visa denials towards other international figures, including recent denials for Mahmoud Abbas and numerous Palestinian officials attending the UN events.
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