Tensions between the United States and Colombia have escalated with the ministry Gustavo Petro, Chairman of the Latin -American country, after he participated in a protest in New York, called on American soldiers not to obey the orders of President Donald Trump.
The department said on social media Friday that Petro “stood in a NYC -Street and encouraged the American soldiers not to obey orders and put on violence. We will withdraw the visa of Petro because of his reckless and interests.”
Petro was visiting the annual UN -general meeting. During a nearby protest on Friday during the war in Gaza, he said, “I ask all the soldiers of the army of the United States, do not point your guns to humanity” and “do not obey Trump’s orders.”
It was unclear whether the decision Petro, who returned to Colombia on Saturday, forced the US to leave earlier than expected. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not answer questions about whether the withdrawal would influence future visits.
Petro, the first left -wing president of Colombia, used a function on X to Trump to say that “international law grants me immunity to go to the UN and that there should be no reprisals for my free opinion because I am a free person.”
Petro, who has a history of speaking the cuff in meandering, ideologically charged speeches, also said on social media that “I don’t care” for the punishment because he is also a European citizen. That means he doesn’t need a visa to travel to the US
Colombia broke diplomatic ties with Israel last year during the Israel-Hamas war. Petro has repeatedly described the siege of Israel from Gaza as a genocide.
Colombia has long been a top -american ally in Latin -America and works closely with the fight against drug trafficking. But there have been repeated collisions between Petro, a former rebel group member and the Republican government of Trump.
Earlier this year, Petro opposed deportation flights with the help of American military aircraft, which led to a diplomatic crisis, because Trump threatened to take revenge with higher rates and visa suspensions. The US is the largest trading partner of Colombia and Petro’s government admitted and said it would accept the planes.
Earlier this month, the US accused Colombia of non-collaboration with anti-narcotics efforts. Although the designation did not include sanctions that would have reduced American help to the country, it was a sharp reprimand that frustrated Petro.
He said that his country had lost the lives of ‘police officers, soldiers and ordinary civilians and tried to stop cocaine’ to reach the United States.
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