The United States government announced on September 26, 2025, that it is revoking the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro following his controversial actions during the ongoing United Nations General Assembly held in New York City. The US State Department cited Petro’s public call urging US military personnel to disobey orders from President Donald Trump and incite violence as the primary reason for the visa revocation.

Petro, a left-leaning leader who assumed office in August 2022, addressed a crowd of pro-Palestinian demonstrators near the UN headquarters on September 26. Using a megaphone, he implored US soldiers to refrain from aiming their weapons at civilians and to disobey the commands of then-President Trump, urging them instead to “obey the orders of humanity.” His exact words were reported as: “I ask all soldiers of the United States Army not to aim their rifles at people. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity!” This incendiary call led the State Department to announce via their official X social media account, “We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”

The visa revocation is a rare and significant diplomatic move that comes amid deteriorating relations between the United States and Colombia under Petro’s administration. Petro had previously openly criticized President Trump for alleged complicity in the Gaza conflict and condemned US missile strikes on Caribbean vessels suspected of drug trafficking. During his UN General Assembly speech earlier that week, Petro called for legal action against these strikes and denounced US policies as “tyrannical.”

Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti reacted sharply to the US decision, tweeting that it should be Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu whose visa was revoked rather than Petro’s. He accused the US of targeting Petro for speaking uncomfortable truths on the world stage.

Experts view this diplomatic escalation as emblematic of deep political tensions between Washington and Bogotá. International relations specialist Dr. Maria Sanchez noted, “Revoking a sitting president’s visa during a UN visit is extraordinary and signals a major breakdown in bilateral dialogue. It will complicate Colombia’s foreign policy and reduce cooperation on issues like drug trafficking and regional security.”

On the ground in Colombia, reactions were mixed. Some citizens expressed pride in Petro’s bold stance against US military policies, while others worried about the fallout from strained ties with the US, Colombia’s key ally.

This incident also highlights the polarized global discourse over the Israel-Palestine conflict, US military interventions, and national sovereignty.

In summary, the revocation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s US visa following his provocative address in New York escalates an already fraught relationship between the two nations. It underscores the high stakes of international diplomacy at the United Nations and marks a new chapter in confrontational politics. Moving forward, observers will watch closely how both governments navigate the diplomatic fallout and its implications for regional cooperation and global politics.