US Revokes Visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro Over Controversial Remarks

Sat Dec 20 2025 10:46:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The US State Department has revoked the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro following his incendiary remarks at a rally in New York, wherein he urged US soldiers to defy orders from President Trump.

In a notable diplomatic incident, the US has taken the unprecedented step of revoking Colombian President Gustavo Petro's visa. Petro provoked backlash when he encouraged American soldiers to 'disobey Trump's order' during a rally associated with pro-Palestinian sentiments. The State Department condemned his remarks as 'reckless and incendiary', especially following his criticisms of US military actions in Colombia. The incident underscores declining relations between Petro's progressive government and the Trump administration.

The US has announced the revocation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro's visa after he urged US soldiers to disobey orders from President Donald Trump during a rally in New York.

The State Department characterized Petro's comments at a pro-Palestinian protest as reckless and incendiary. Petro had been in the US for the UN General Assembly, where he previously demanded a criminal investigation into the Trump administration's airstrikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean.

Reports indicate that Petro was already en route back to Bogotá when the US government declared the cancellation of his visa.

In a video shared on social media, Petro addressed a large crowd, calling for the creation of a world salvation army to liberate Palestine. He stated, Disobey Trump's order! Obey the order of humanity! emphasizing the call for US soldiers to turn their rifles not towards humanity but towards oppressors.

The US State Department responded strongly, indicating it disapproved of Petro's remarks, citing them as incitements to disobey military orders. The revocation of his visa was attributed to his reckless and incendiary actions.

Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti criticized the move, suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visa should have been revoked instead, arguing that Petro was punished for being honest about the situation.

This incident reflects the deteriorating relations between the Colombian government under Petro, noted for being its first left-wing administration, and the Trump administration, especially surrounding discussions about US military strategy in Latin America.

During his UN speech, Petro condemned US airstrikes, which he claimed were not aimed at the drug trade, but rather an attempt to exert violence to control Colombia and Latin America.

Petro's critical stance included allegations that US officials had ties to drug gangs, contrasting with his administration's efforts to persuade farmers to cease coca cultivation.

The US maintains that the military actions are part of an anti-drug operation linked to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom it accuses of managing a drug trafficking cartel.

In a broader context, the US has also denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and numerous officials, barring them from attending the UN General Assembly despite typical allowances for world leaders.