Sat Sep 27 14:07:18 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it, written from an Indian perspective and adhering to the format of *The Hindu*.
**Summary of Text:**
The United States and Colombia are experiencing heightened tensions following Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s participation in a pro-Palestinian protest in New York. During the protest, Petro called on American soldiers to disobey President Trump’s orders, prompting the U.S. State Department to revoke his visa. This action has further strained relations already frayed by disagreements over deportation flights and anti-narcotics efforts. Petro, a leftist and former rebel leader, dismissed the visa revocation, citing his European citizenship. The incident underscores the growing divide between Petro’s government and the Trump administration, potentially jeopardizing the traditionally strong alliance between the two nations.
**News Article:**
**U.S. Revokes Colombian President’s Visa Amidst Rising Tensions**
*By The Hindu Bureau*
**WASHINGTON, September 27, 2025:** A diplomatic rift has widened between the United States and Colombia following the U.S. State Department’s decision to revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The move comes after Petro’s participation in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York, where he directly appealed to American soldiers to defy orders from President Donald Trump.
Petro, in New York for the 80th United Nations General Assembly, addressed protestors near the UN headquarters on Friday, September 26th, stating, “I ask all the soldiers of the United States’ army, don’t point your rifles against humanity” and “disobey the orders of Trump.”
The State Department responded swiftly, announcing the visa revocation via social media, citing Petro’s “reckless and incendiary actions.”
While it remains unclear if Petro’s early return to Colombia on Saturday was influenced by the revocation, the State Department declined to comment on the implications for future visits. Petro, however, downplayed the significance of the decision, stating on social media that he “doesn’t care” due to his European citizenship, which allows him visa-free travel to the U.S.
This incident marks the latest in a series of disagreements between the leftist Petro administration and the Trump administration. Earlier this year, Petro resisted deportation flights using American military aircraft, resulting in a diplomatic standoff that was only resolved when Colombia relented, fearing potential economic repercussions from the U.S., its largest trading partner.
The U.S. has also recently criticized Colombia’s anti-narcotics efforts, a sore point for Petro, who insists that Colombia has made significant sacrifices in the fight against drug trafficking, including the loss of lives of “policemen, soldiers and regular citizens, trying to stop cocaine” from reaching the United States.
The escalating tensions raise concerns about the future of the traditionally strong alliance between the two nations, a partnership that has been crucial for regional stability and the fight against drug trafficking in Latin America. The situation is being closely watched in Delhi, as India maintains strong ties with countries in Latin America and values its strategic partnership with the United States. The evolving dynamics could have broader implications for regional power dynamics and India’s engagement in the Western Hemisphere.
First Piper 