The Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa is set to be revoked by the United States following his participation in a pro-Palestinian rally in New York and his call for US soldiers to defy President Donald Trump’s directives. The State Department announced the decision, citing Petro’s provocative behavior during the demonstration.
During the rally outside the UN headquarters in Manhattan, Petro advocated for a global military force to support the liberation of Palestinians, emphasizing the need for a larger force than that of the US. Speaking in Spanish, he urged American soldiers not to use force against civilians but to prioritize humanity over Trump’s commands.
It is unknown if Petro is still in New York, as his whereabouts have not been confirmed. Both his office and Colombia’s foreign ministry have yet to provide any comments on the situation.
The Trump administration has been clamping down on pro-Palestinian sentiments, contrasting with nations like France, Britain, Australia, and Canada, which have recognized a Palestinian state. These actions have sparked tensions with Israel and the US, its staunch supporter.
As Colombia’s inaugural leftist president and a staunch critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Petro criticized Trump during his address at the UN General Assembly, accusing the US leader of complicity in Gaza’s alleged genocide. He called for legal action against the US for its missile strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in Caribbean waters.
Although the US is Colombia’s primary trade partner and a key ally in combating drug trafficking, relations between the two countries soured following Petro’s refusal to accept deportee flights under Trump’s immigration policies earlier this year.