US to revoke visa of leftist Colombian leader

2025-09-27 10:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US State Department said yesterday that it will revoke the US visa held by left-wing Colombian President Gustavo Petro. In a post on X, the Department announced that the revocation was due to Petros' reckless and provocative actions.

What do we know so far?

Petro was in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. Earlier Friday, he told a group of protesters in New York that American soldiers should disobey Trump's orders and obey the orders of humanity!

These comments appear to be the latest high point for the administration of US President Donald Trump. Under the US Constitution, the president is the commander-in-chief of the US military.

During his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Petro strongly criticized the Trump administration's attacks on suspected Venezuelan drug trafficking ships in the Caribbean Sea. The Colombian president even went so far as to say that Trump should face criminal prosecution for the killings.

Petro, who took office in August 2022, is also a fierce critic of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. Meanwhile, Trump has said the Colombian government is failing to fulfill its "obligations on drug control."

How has Colombia responded?

Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti wrote on X on Friday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visa should have been revoked.

"But, since the empire protects him, he is blaming the only president who was capable enough to tell him the truth face to face," Benedetti added.

Petro was already en route to Bogota from New York on Friday evening, Colombian media reported.

Petro clashed with Trump administration over deportees earlier this year

Earlier this year, Colombia blocked two US military planes carrying deported migrants from landing on Colombian territory. Petro was unhappy with the Trump administration's treatment of Colombian deportees.

In response, the Trump administration revoked visas for Colombian officials and even announced 25% tariffs on Colombia, a major coffee producer. In response, Petro announced tariffs on American goods.

This standoff ended when then-Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced that Colombia would take back its citizens. Trump then announced that he would not continue to implement punitive measures against Colombia./ CNA