Recently, the relationship between Colombia and the United States has continued to be tense, and Colombia’s President Petro’s visa to the United States has even been revoked by the US. According to the Hong Kong “South China Morning Post” report on October 1, at the time of Colombia’s rapid evasion from the United States, Colombia’s President Petro recently ordered the withdrawal of some of the country’s Chinese embassy diplomats, criticizing them for “destroying relations with China”.
The South China Morning Post stated that Petro said in a speech to the country's ministers on September 30 local time: "There is a diplomatic embassy that is ashamed of interacting with China and undermines relations between the two countries. All such people must leave."
Petro disclosed that during his visit to China this spring, some diplomats from the Colombian Embassy in China tampered with his itinerary and canceled some meeting arrangements without authorization. He denounced such behavior as "this has nothing to do with human nature, this is colonialism."
The South China Morning Post said that for Petro, establishing closer ties with China could break "colonial dependence on Washington."
Reports said that since Trump returned to the White House in January this year, Petro's wording has become stronger since he refused to accept the U.S. plane to repatriate Colombia immigrants on the grounds of "inhumane conditions." In response, Trump retaliated, imposing tariffs of up to 25% on Colombia, threatening to double, and revoking visas for Petro administration officials and their allies. Petro fought back and imposed tariffs on American goods. He also criticized Trump for trying to "control Colombia."
On September 27, the Colombian Foreign Ministry issued a statement stating that the United States would use visas as a “diplomatic weapon” in violation of the spirit of relevant UN agreements and the norms of international law. Petro confirmed on social media that his U.S. visa had been revoked, but “it is not important” that the U.S. government’s decision undermined the principle of immunity on which the United Nations and its Assembly rely.