Diplomatic tensions between Colombia and the United States escalated Monday after Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio announced she was renouncing her U.S. visa in solidarity with President Gustavo Petro, whose visa was revoked last week by the U.S. State Department.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it was not interested in “diplomatic visas that limit opinions” or undermine Colombia’s “sovereignty.”
The U.S. revoked President Petro’s visa after his participation in a protest in New York against the war in Gaza. During the demonstration, Petro—wearing a keffiyeh and speaking through a megaphone—called for an international army to liberate Gaza and the West Bank, and urged American soldiers to “disobey” orders from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Hours later, the State Department announced via social media that Petro’s visa was cancelled “due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”
Petro, who had just returned to Colombia from attending the United Nations General Assembly, downplayed the move, posting on X that he “didn’t care” since he also holds Italian citizenship, which may allow him to enter the U.S. without a visa.
The visa dispute comes amid a growing rift between Bogotá and Washington over drug policy, the war in Gaza, and U.S. naval operations near Venezuela. Earlier this month, the Trump administration added Colombia to a list of nations it accuses of failing to meet international commitments to curb drug trafficking.
Immigration attorneys in Miami described Villavicencio’s move as unusual.
“They are doing this for the media and to show solidarity,” said David Hart, noting that most people simply let their visas expire if they no longer wish to travel.
“There is no formal procedure for quitting on a non-immigrant visa,” added Wilfredo Allen. “She will likely have to send a letter to the U.S. embassy seeking cancellation. I’ve never seen someone take the time to renounce a non-immigrant visa.”
The Colombian government has not said whether further diplomatic measures will follow Villavicencio’s decision. For now, the rare act of renouncing a visa underscores the deepening strain in U.S.–Colombia relations, which analysts warn could spill over into broader cooperation on trade, security, and regional stability.