Colombian President Barred From U.S. After Visa Allegedly Revoked by Trump Admin
Colombian President Gustavo Petro claims the Trump administration has revoked his visa, preventing him from attending crucial International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington, D.C. this week.
The alleged visa cancellation marks a significant diplomatic rift between the two nations, with Finance Minister Germán Avila stepping in to represent Colombia instead.
“I can’t go anymore because I think they’ve revoked my visa,” Petro stated during a Monday Council of Ministers meeting, adding: “I didn’t need a visa, but hey, I’ve seen Donald Duck several times. So, I’m off to see other things.”
The visa suspension comes amid escalating tensions between Colombia and the United States.
President Trump previously threatened “decisive retaliatory measures” after Petro’s government refused to allow two U.S. military flights carrying deported Colombian migrants to land in January.
Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president and a former member of the 19th of April Movement guerrilla group, had previously visited the United States multiple times, including trips to Chicago and New York in September 2024 for a climate conference and the UN General Assembly.
In April 2023, he was hosted at the White House by then-President Joe Biden.
The diplomatic relationship deteriorated significantly in January when Petro blocked two military flights attempting to deport 160 Colombian nationals.
The Colombian president publicly criticized the Trump administration for keeping the deportees handcuffed throughout the journey, citing concerns about their treatment and human rights considerations.
This action triggered an immediate and forceful response from Washington.
President Trump, using his Truth Social platform, announced a series of punitive measures designed to pressure the Colombian government.
“I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” Trump declared in his statement.
The Daily Mail reported that the economic consequences were swift, with Trump implementing a 25 percent tariff on Colombian imports and threatening to double this figure if the situation remained unresolved.
More pointedly relevant to the current situation, Trump also announced “A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters,” extending these visa sanctions to “party members, family members, and supporters of the Colombian government.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio added fuel to the diplomatic fire by releasing a statement that accused Petro of acting in bad faith.
The Colombian president had initially agreed to accept the deportation flights but reversed his decision when the aircraft were already in transit, according to Rubio, creating a logistical and humanitarian crisis.
The conflict escalated further when Petro announced retaliatory measures of his own, declaring that U.S. imports would face a matching 25 percent tax. However, facing significant economic pressure and potential damage to Colombia’s economy, Petro eventually backed down and agreed to accept the deported migrants.
This visa controversy represents perhaps the most significant diplomatic snub of Petro’s administration and highlights the complex dynamics at play between his leftist government and the Trump administration.
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