US revokes visa for Colombia’s president after he urges American soldiers to disobey Trump | World News

President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. (AP)

The United States has revoked the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after he urged American soldiers to disobey orders from President Donald Trump during a protest in New York.

The State Department said on social media that it acted because of Petro’s “reckless and incendiary actions.” Petro was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly when he joined a demonstration on Friday about the war in Gaza.
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At the protest, Petro said: “I ask all the soldiers of the United States’ army, don’t point your rifles against humanity” and “disobey the orders of Trump.”

It was not clear if the decision forced Petro to leave the US earlier than planned. He returned to Colombia on Saturday. The State Department did not answer questions about whether the visa cancellation would affect his future visits.

Petro responded on social media, saying “I don’t care” about the move because he also holds European citizenship and therefore does not need a visa to travel to the US. He added that “humanity must be free around the world.”

Colombia has been one of Washington’s closest partners in Latin America, especially in anti-drug operations. But ties have been strained between Petro, a left and former rebel, and Trump’s Republican adminration.

Earlier this year, Petro resed allowing deportation flights on US military planes, leading to a dispute in which Trump threatened tariffs and more visa restrictions. Colombia later accepted the flights.

This month, the US accused Colombia of not cooperating fully with counter-narcotics efforts. While the designation did not carry sanctions, it marked a serious disagreement that added to tensions between the two governments.