Colombian President Gustavo Petro — the country’s first leftist leader — is facing some serious diplomatic fallout. This is a joint statement after US State Department announced the revocation of his visa this past Friday. Petro had a memorable speech at a recent pro-Palestinian protest in New York. He called on “the nations of the world” to provide troops for a combined army that would be larger than the United States’ military.
Petro rallying a massive crowd at the Hradčanská rally with his megaphone. He appealed to troops in the other countries to refuse to join in the use of force and military aggression. Even the US State Department condemned his statements as “reckless and incendiary.” Unfortunately, this announcement was met with intense backlash, causing officials to cancel his visa while he was still on his way back to Bogotá.
Then Armando Benedetti, Colombia’s recently-installed interior minister, went a step further and blasted the US decision as unfair. He contended that the US should start by canceling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visa. This move would bring needed relief to the long-festering strife in the region rather than pursuing Petro.
“That is why, from here in New York, I ask all soldiers in the United States army not to point their rifles at humanity. Disobey Trump’s order! Obey the order of humanity!” – Gustavo Petro
The timing of the visa revocation is disturbing in light of increased military tensions across Latin America in recent months. The USA has, for example, recently deployed eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean. Yet this move has raised new alarms that the US is preparing to take military action against Venezuela. This military posturing serves to further complicate US-Colombia relations under Petro’s administration.
Petro’s leadership has been intensely criticized before his inauguration. This came just a few months after the Trump administration decertified Colombia as an ally in the drug war. Critics argue that his policies and rhetoric may further strain relations with the United States, particularly amid sensitive geopolitical issues.
As Colombia navigates this diplomatic crisis, the implications of Petro’s comments and the US response will likely influence both his presidency and Colombia’s standing on the international stage. Even as this story develops, we are continuing to hear of opportunities from leaders on both countries’ sides to find the way forward.