The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, was expelled from the United States after the State Department announced the revocation of his diplomatic visa.
The measure came after the South American leader participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York and directed harsh criticism at the government of Donald Trump, particularly regarding Washington's role in the conflict in Gaza and its support for Israel.
Petro, who traveled to the United States to address the United Nations General Assembly, attended a political event on a street in New York on Friday morning, accompanied by demonstrators whom he urged to use force to "liberate Palestine."
"This global force must be greater than that of the United States. Therefore, from here, from New York, I ask all soldiers of the U.S. Army not to point their rifles at humanity. Disobey Trump's orders. Obey the orders of humanity," said the Colombian president in a video circulating on social media.
The State Department reacted swiftly.
Through its official account on X, the institution wrote: "Earlier today, Colombian President Gustavo Petro stood on a street in New York and urged American soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro's visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions."
International media such as CNN reported that the decision to revoke the visa further strained the already complicated relations between Bogotá and Washington.
In his speech at the UN, Petro urged the West and the United States to suspend their support for Israel due to the bombings in Gaza, and directly called Trump a "co-conspirator of genocide" in the Palestinian city.
His accusation came days after the publication of an independent United Nations report that concluded, for the first time, that Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinians, a claim firmly denied by the Israeli government.
During his speech at the General Assembly, the Colombian leader also called for the initiation of "criminal proceedings" regarding the attacks by the United States against alleged drug traffickers in international waters of South America.
His departure from U.S. territory happened quickly. According to Caracol Radio from Colombia, he boarded a return flight just before the State Department officially revoked his visa.
The president also shared a clip of his street speech in New York on his X account, where he stated that Latin Americans, including Colombians, are descendants of Arabs who arrived in America on Columbus's ships in 1492.
Petro has had continual clashes with the Trump administration on issues of migration and drug trafficking, in which he has shown resistance to the policies of the White House.
In January, he blocked the landing of two military flights carrying deported Colombians, accusing Washington of criminalizing migrants. He then agreed to receive them, although by sending his own aircraft for their transportation.
His abrupt expulsion marks a turning point in the bilateral relationship.
Colombia had been regarded as Washington's most reliable ally in South America regarding security and defense, but the open confrontation between the Colombian president and Donald Trump calls that historic strategic relationship into question.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gustavo Petro's Expulsion from the United States
Why was Gustavo Petro expelled from the United States?
Gustavo Petro was expelled from the United States following the revocation of his diplomatic visa by the Department of State. This action was taken after Petro participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York, where he strongly criticized the government of Donald Trump and urged American soldiers to disobey orders related to the conflict in Gaza.
What did Gustavo Petro say in his speech that led to his expulsion?
In his speech during a demonstration in New York, Gustavo Petro accused the United States of being complicit in genocide in Gaza and urged American soldiers to disobey the orders of President Trump. He also called on the West to suspend its support for Israel.
How did this expulsion affect the relations between Colombia and the United States?
The expulsion of Gustavo Petro further strained the relationship between Colombia and the United States, which was already complicated. Colombia had been considered a strategic ally of Washington in South America, but the open confrontation between Petro and Trump called that connection into question.
How did the United States government react to Petro's statements?
The U.S. State Department quickly reacted to Petro's statements, announcing the revocation of his visa due to his "reckless and incendiary actions". The government deemed his words to incite violence and unacceptable.
Filed under:
