DISCLAIMER: This article was first published in April 2025
Easter week brought some strange news in world politics. Colombian President Gustavo Petro stated that he can no longer visit the United States because his visa has been revoked. He shared this news during a meeting on Monday.
“I can’t go anymore because I think they’ve revoked my visa,” Petro said. But instead of showing anger, he made a joke. “I didn’t need a visa, but hey, I’ve seen Donald Duck several times. So, I’m off to see other things.”
This light comment got laughs, but the situation is serious. Petro was scheduled to attend important meetings in Washington, D.C., with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. World leaders gather there to discuss financial matters, trade, and global challenges. Since Petro cannot attend, Colombia’s Finance Minister, Germán Avila, will participate in his place.
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So, what happened? Why was Petro’s visa canceled?
It started in January. Two U.S. military planes were flying to Colombia. They were carrying over 200 Colombian migrants who were being deported from the U.S. But when the planes arrived, Colombia did not allow them to land. This made Donald Trump very angry.
Trump later posted on Truth Social: “I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures.”
He stated that the U.S. would impose a 25% tax on goods imported from Colombia. He also noted that visa bans would be imposed on Petro, his team, and even their families and supporters.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also blamed Petro. He said Petro had agreed to take the migrants but then changed his mind after the planes were already airborne. Petro, on the other hand, was angry because the people on the planes were handcuffed. He said this was unfair and disrespectful.
After some days of tension, Petro gave in. He allowed the planes to land and accepted the deported migrants. But now, nearly three months later, the U.S. has revoked his visa anyway.
This is a big deal. Petro is Colombia’s first leftist president. Before becoming a leader, he was part of a rebel group. His win in 2022 brought hope for change, especially among young and poor Colombians. But his time in office has not been easy. He has had problems with the U.S. and with some people in his own country.
This is not Petro’s first visit to the U.S. He was in New York for the United Nations General Assembly and in Chicago for a climate conference in 2024. In 2023, he was even welcomed to the White House by former President Joe Biden. But things have changed under Trump.
Now that Trump is back in power, he’s taking a harder line. He didn’t like how Petro handled the deportation issue, and he responded in a big way—with visa bans and trade threats.
However, this move may do more harm than good. Colombia and the U.S. are strong trade partners. Many Colombian goods—such as coffee, flowers, and fruit—go to the U.S. Placing high taxes on them could harm both economies.
Additionally, not allowing a president to attend important global meetings can exacerbate tensions between countries. It sends a bad message and can increase tension. This kind of move is not helpful and only creates more problems.
Featured image via Screengrab
