Colombia’s Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio announced her intention to renounce her U.S. visa in an “act of dignity” following the revocation of President Gustavo Petro’s visa by Washington.
“Our sovereignty does not kneel. Colombia demands respect,” Villavicencio stated on social media platform X on Monday.
The U.S. government announced its decision to cancel Petro’s visa after he participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration during the recent UN General Assembly in New York. The State Department described Petro’s actions as “reckless and incendiary,” particularly citing his call for U.S. forces to disobey orders from former President Donald Trump.
Villavicencio’s decision means that neither the Colombian president nor the top diplomat can travel to the U.S., which is Colombia’s largest trading partner and a major source of military aid.
“Should one’s visa be revoked for being a pacifist, many of us are expressing solidarity and will also renounce that document,” Villavicencio remarked Monday at a press conference in Bogotá.
Despite this diplomatic setback, Colombia will continue its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The incident highlights the significant deterioration in relations between Colombia and the U.S. under Petro, who has openly criticized Trump within the Latin American context. This issue is expected to be discussed at an upcoming meeting between Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
In a statement on Sunday, Petro suggested that the cancellation was not merely a targeted action against him but “against the United Nations, and against the struggle for the life of humanity.”
Petro’s term is set to conclude in August 2026. Notably, former Colombian President Ernesto Samper faced a similar situation in the 1990s when his visa was revoked due to allegations of drug money financing his campaign.
This report includes contributions from Oscar Medina and Andreina Itriago.
