The sanctions issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury against the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and his family, which prevent them from entering US territory, were described by the president as an insult to the country.
Petro reacted to the measure via social media, where he described the decision as “not only a profound act of rudeness, but an insult to the Colombian nation, a humiliation.” The president asserted that the sanction is politically motivated.
According to Petro, the decision was influenced by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and by Colombian political figures with alleged ties to drug trafficking. He claimed that these groups pressured President Donald Trump to retaliate against him.
The president also linked the sanction to the failure of the Summit of the Americas, which was suspended due to “profound disagreements” among the participating countries. He believes the measure stems from accumulated diplomatic tensions.
Despite the revocation of his visa, Petro stated that he will not be intimidated. He asserted that, as head of state, he has the right to represent his country in any international forum.
“Colombia will be a member of the Security Council starting January 1st. I will have the pleasure of returning to New York, even if the federal government doesn’t want to receive me there,” the president stated in his post.
For its part, the U.S. State Department justified the visa revocation by alleging that Petro, during a protest in New York, urged U.S. military personnel to disobey Trump’s orders, which prompted the sanction.
IMAGE CREDIT: Despite the revocation of his visa, Petro stated that he will not be intimidated and will travel to the U.S. in 2026.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
