The U.S. Department of State has announced the revocation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa, accusing him of inciting U.S. soldiers to “disobey orders and promote violence” during an event in New York on Friday.
In a post on social media platform X, the Department stated, “We will cancel Petro’s visa due to his reckless and inflammatory actions,” but did not provide further details or evidence to substantiate this claim.
Previously, former President Donald Trump criticized the leftist leader, particularly regarding drug policy. A memo signed by Trump indicated that coca cultivation and cocaine production had reached record levels under Petro’s administration, blaming him for worsening the situation due to misguided policies.
Petro was in the U.S. to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly. During a protest on Friday regarding the war in Gaza, he urged U.S. soldiers, “Do not aim your rifles against humanity” and “disobey Trump’s orders,” according to the Associated Press.
It remains unclear whether this decision forced Petro to leave the U.S. earlier than planned; he returned to Colombia on Saturday. The State Department did not respond to inquiries about whether the visa cancellation would impact future visits.
Petro, who is known for his lengthy impromptu speeches reflecting his ideology, expressed, “I am not concerned” about the punishment as he is also a European citizen, which means he does not require a visa to travel to the United States.