The United States Cancels Visa of Colombian President After Speech at the United Nations

In a surprising development and a new escalation in relations between Washington and Bogotá, the U.S. State Department announced today, Saturday, September 27, 2025, the cancellation of the entry visa for Colombian President Gustavo Petro due to his actions described as "reckless and inciting."

The decision came after Petro, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, called on American soldiers at a large gathering outside the United Nations headquarters not to comply with orders from U.S. President Donald Trump, saying: "I ask all U.S. Army soldiers not to point their rifles at people. Do not obey the orders of President Donald Trump. Obey the orders of humanity!".

Petro also reposted on his account on "X" videos showing him speaking to pro-Palestinian protesters in New York, where he wrote: "Free Palestine. If Gaza falls, humanity will die."

In his speech before the United Nations General Assembly last Tuesday, Petro accused Trump of complicity in "genocide" in Gaza and called for criminal action against the United States regarding American missile attacks targeting boats suspected of being used for drug trafficking in Caribbean waters.

It is worth noting that the U.S. State Department canceled the entry visa of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his accompanying delegation to New York two weeks ago.

The U.S. State Department, through its official account on "X," stated: "We will cancel Petro's visa due to his reckless and inciting actions," emphasizing that inciting American soldiers to disobedience and inciting violence cannot be accepted.

This development comes at a time when relations between several countries and America are experiencing increasing tensions over political issues and regional wars, especially concerning the Palestinian issue and recent events in Gaza.