Colombia’s Foreign Minister Renounces US Visa After Petro’s Travel Ban

Colombia’s foreign minister has given up her US visa in protest after Washington revoked the travel permit of President Gustavo Petro, the government announced Monday, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between Bogotá and Washington.

Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said her decision reflected Colombia’s rejection of “diplomatic visas that limit opinions” and curtail sovereignty. Hours later, Finance Minister Germán Ávila declared he too would stop using his visa, citing US “aggression” and pledging that “to work for our people, we do not need visas.”

The US State Department revoked Petro’s visa Friday after he joined a Gaza war protest in New York, where he wore a Palestinian kaffiyeh, urged the creation of an international force to liberate Gaza and the West Bank, and told US soldiers to “disobey” President Donald Trump’s orders. Washington called the remarks “reckless and incendiary.”

Petro, who was already back in Colombia, dismissed the move, noting that his Italian citizenship could allow him alternative entry to the United States.

The episode further strains relations between Petro’s leftist government and the Trump administration, which earlier this month accused Colombia of failing to curb drug trafficking. Analysts say the visa row reflects Petro’s willingness to confront Washington ahead of Colombia’s 2026 elections.

“Petro is not even remotely interested in repairing the relationship with Washington,” said Geoff Ramsey of the Atlantic Council. “He’s clearly betting that confrontation with Trump will score points for his coalition.”

Immigration lawyers noted that renouncing a non-immigrant visa is rare and largely symbolic. “They are doing this for the media and to show solidarity,” said Miami attorney David Hart.