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The US State Department made headlines on Friday by announcing that it would revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The decision followed what Washington described as “reckless and incendiary actions” during a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City. This rare move against a sitting head of state underscores the deepening rift between Washington and Bogota under Petro’s left-leaning government, as tensions over drug enforcement operations and foreign policy continue to rise.
While addressing a large crowd through a megaphone, Petro passionately urged soldiers in the US Army to refuse to obey what he called unjust orders from former President Donald Trump. He encouraged them to instead “obey the order of humanity,” asking nations to build a military force greater than that of the United States. Petro’s speech, which was amplified through translators for the international audience, was seen by Washington as an attempt to incite disobedience and unrest, prompting the swift diplomatic response.
The visa revocation adds to the already tense relationship between the US and Colombia. Petro has openly criticized US-led airstrikes targeting drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea, which Washington frames as part of its anti-drug operations. Petro claims some of the victims were Colombian citizens and has accused Washington of acts of tyranny. This dispute has further strained bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of counter-narcotics and security, where Colombia has long been one of Washington’s closest allies in Latin America.
Colombia’s Interior Minister Armando Benedetti publicly condemned the decision, taking to social media to argue that the US should have revoked the visa of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instead. Benedetti accused Washington of protecting Netanyahu while punishing Petro for speaking what he called “the truth to his face.” The statement reflects the Colombian government’s growing frustration with what it views as selective enforcement of international norms by the United States.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened global tensions, as the US also denied visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other Palestinian officials, preventing them from attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The move has drawn criticism from several quarters, with observers warning that such measures could undermine diplomatic dialogue at a time when international cooperation is urgently needed.
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