US revokes Colombian leader's visa over pro-Palestinian protest

Tensions between the United States and Colombia have escalated with the State Department announcing it was revoking a visa for Gustavo Petro, president of the Latin American country, after he participated in a New York protest where he called on American soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump's orders.

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The department said on social media that "we will revoke Petro's visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions."

Petro on Saturday dismissed the US decision to revoke his visa and accused Washington of violating international law over his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza.

Petro was visiting for the annual UN Nations General Assembly. During a nearby protest on Friday over the war in Gaza, he said "I ask all the soldiers of the United States' army, don't point your rifles against humanity" and "disobey the orders of Trump."

Petro, addressing a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters outside UN headquarters in Manhattan, called for a global armed force with the priority to liberate Palestinians, adding "this force has to be bigger than that of the United States."

It was unclear if the decision forced Petro, who returned to Colombia on Saturday, to leave the US earlier than expected. The State Department did not answer questions about whether the revocation would affect future visits.