Washington (AP) – Tensions between US and Colombia The State Department escalated after it announced it had cancelled its visa Gustavo Petrothe Latin American country’s president, after taking part in the New York protest, called on American soldiers to follow President Donald Trump’s orders.
The department said on social media that “will cancel Peter’s visa due to his reckless and inflammatory actions.”
Peter was visiting the annual UN General Assembly. During a nearby protest in the war in Gaza on Friday, he said, “I ask all the soldiers of the US military to point your rifles to humanity,” and “it goes against Trump’s orders.”
It was unclear whether the decision forced Peter, who returned to Colombia on Saturday to leave the US earlier than expected. The State Department did not answer questions about whether the cancellation would affect future visits.
Peter has a history of speaking from the oblique cuffs in his ideologically charged speech, but on social media he writes that he “doesn’t mind” about punishment, as he is also a European citizen. That means he does not need a visa to travel to the US
He also said that humanity must be free all over the world.
Colombia has long been the top US ally in Latin America and has worked closely in the fight against drug trafficking. However, there have been repeated clashes between the left and former rebel leaders Petro and Trump’s Republican administration.
Earlier this year, Peter resisted deportation flights using US military aircraft, leading to a diplomatic crisis as Trump threatened to retaliate with higher tariffs and visa suspensions. The United States is Colombia’s biggest trading partner, and Peter’s government relented Accept the plane.
The US denounced Colombia earlier this month Not cooperating It involves anti-drug efforts. The designation did not include sanctions that reduced aid to the US, but that was annoyed Peter’s sharp responsibilities.
He said his country lost its lives to the United States that it was “in an attempt to stop cops, soldiers, ordinary citizens, cocaine.”
