US Condemns Gustavo Petro’s Rally Speech, Announces Visa Revocation

The United States government announced it will revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after his controversial remarks at a pro-Palestinian demonstration held in New York City. Petro’s speech, which included a call for US soldiers to disobey then-President Donald Trump’s orders, sparked a swift response from the US State Department.

The incident occurred outside the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, where Petro addressed a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters. During his speech, the Colombian leader called for the establishment of a global armed force with the explicit mission of liberating the Palestinian people. “This force has to be bigger than that of the United States,” he said, emphasizing the need for international solidarity with the Palestinian cause.

Petro also directly appealed to members of the US military, urging them in Spanish to “not point their guns at people” and to “disobey the orders of Trump” while following the “orders of humanity.” His call was seen as a challenge to military discipline and the authority of the US president, prompting strong condemnation from Washington.

In response, the US State Department took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), declaring, “We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.” The decision signals a significant diplomatic rebuke and underscores the tension between the United States and Colombia over Petro’s outspoken support for the Palestinian cause and his criticisms of US foreign policy.

The move to revoke the visa is expected to strain relations further between the two countries, which have historically maintained close ties. Petro’s vocal stance has drawn mixed reactions internationally, garnering support among pro-Palestinian groups while raising concerns among US officials and allies.

This episode comes amid heightened global attention on the Israel-Palestine conflict, with various world leaders and activists holding rallies and voicing opinions on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the broader Middle East.