The Trump administration has revoked the U.S. visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, citing ‘reckless and incendiary actions’ he allegedly took in New York City. The decision, announced late Friday, claims that Petro called for U.S. soldiers to disobey their orders and incite violence during a demonstration against Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier this week, Petro had delivered a fiery speech at the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York, where he denounced the U.S. government’s deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean, which Trump’s administration claimed carried drugs. Petro countered that the vessels were not involved in drug trafficking, but rather contained ‘poor young people from Latin America who had no other option.’ He accused the Trump administration of criminalizing poverty and migration, calling the attacks an ‘act of tyranny.’
Diplomatic tensions have been escalating between the Trump administration and Petro, who has been a vocal critic of U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the war on drugs and migration. In January, Trump had threatened to impose 50% tariffs on Colombian imports unless the country allowed military aircraft to transport deported citizens, an offer Petro initially resisted but ultimately accepted.
This latest incident underscores the deepening rift between the two nations and raises questions about the impact on Colombia’s economic and political standing. The revocation of Petro’s visa has also sparked debates about the use of diplomatic tools in international relations, with some viewing it as a strategic move to exert pressure on Colombia, while others see it as a reckless use of executive power.
As the situation continues to unfold, the long-term implications for U.S.-Colombia relations remain unclear, with both sides likely to take further steps in the coming weeks to assert their positions in the ongoing diplomatic struggle.