In a dramatic diplomatic move, the U.S. State Department announced it has revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa following his controversial remarks during a pro-Palestinian protest in New York.

“Today, President Petro stood on a New York street urging U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence,” the State Department said on X (formerly Twitter). “We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”

Petro, who attended the rally alongside British musician and activist Roger Waters, called for an international armed force “to liberate Palestine” and urged U.S. and Israeli soldiers not to support “genocide.”

Reacting to Washington’s decision, Petro claimed the move violates international law and the immunity norms granted to heads of state attending the UN General Assembly. “The U.S. government cannot condition our opinions,” he wrote on X.

In Colombia, political and business leaders expressed concern over the deteriorating relationship with Washington. Former president Iván Duque called Petro’s behavior “irrational,” while Bruce Mac Master, head of the National Business Association of Colombia, warned of “immense costs” if foreign relations are mishandled.

This is not the first time the U.S. has revoked a Colombian president’s visa: in 1996, then-president Ernesto Samper lost his visa amid revelations of cartel financing of his campaign.