The visit of President Gustavo Petro in the United States ‘was expensive’, because, due to his pro-palestine proselytism in all his interventions and “incendiary actions” the State Department of that country announced this Friday night that its visa would be revoked.
Given this, the reactions did not wait. Responses from various sectors quickly criticized the actions and statements of the Colombian head of state, which may have direct repercussions on the national economy.
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From the Citizen Movement Better together, with a photo of Petro and former President Ernesto Samper, they indicated: “We join or take us to the abyss! If we do not learn from the mistakes of the past, we are condemned to repeat them. We cannot allow it“
In turn, former president Álvaro Uribe celebrated the measure taken by world power: “Colombia appreciates the noble gesture of the American government, to direct all the unique sanctions and exclusively against those who have declared an enemy of Colombia and the United States“.
See more: ‘We will revoke Petro’s visa for his incendiary actions’: USA.
For his part, Bruce Mac Master, president of the Andi, said that due to the lack, the costs of it could be huge for the whole country: “We are not taking the country’s international relations seriously and responsibly. Costs can be immense to all citizens and that seems not to matter“
In that same thread, American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar, said in her X account that “Petro was his guerrilla instinct in the wrong place. He crossed a dangerous line and now faces the consequences. The revocation of your visa is more than deserved. Petro does not represent Colombians. International shame!“
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Similarly, the representative to the Catherine Juvinao Chamber said: “International relations must occur under institutional and diplomatic codes that shield themselves in the face of political/electoral instrumentalization. Playing nanny to provoke/destabilize for electoral purposes is irresponsible. The president is one more politician. Do not fall”
Reactions in favor
On the other hand, by the government, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti shared a video talking about the history of the state of Israel and the state of Palestine, stating that Petro is ‘on the right side of history’ and that, the former presidents who preceded him were ‘Lamec …’: “Gustavo Petro takes the visa because it was one of the few presidents who dared to denounce the genocide against Palestine. But Netanyahu protects it. Petro dared to tell him the truth in the face of the United States and the world “.
Likewise, the Minister of Labor, Antonio Sanguino, also expressed his support for the President and questioned the power to ‘demand dignity’: “Ee. UU. Talk about ‘reckless and incendiary actions’? Since when to demand dignity to the world, it becomes a crime? Washington’s decision to revoke the visa to President Petro is a political retaliation, it is not about “prudence”, it is about silencing an uncomfortable president who denounces the war and the occupation, which the US is accomplice. Colombia does not kneel“
Valentina Delgadillo Abello
Portfolio journalist
