U.S. cancels Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after his pro-Palestinian remarks in New York.
The United States government on Friday announced it would revoke the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The decision followed Petro’s participation in a pro-Palestinian protest in New York, where he openly criticised U.S. policy and President Donald Trump.
According to a post on X by the U.S. State Department, the visa was withdrawn due to what they termed as “reckless and incendiary actions.”
During the demonstration outside the UN headquarters, Petro urged the world to create a military force larger than America’s to liberate Palestinians. Speaking to U.S. troops in Spanish, he said:
“I ask all the soldiers of the army of the United States not to point their guns at people. Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity.”
Neither Petro’s office nor Colombia’s foreign ministry immediately commented on the U.S. action, while it remained unclear whether he was still in New York.
The development comes at a time when Washington is intensifying pressure on pro-Palestinian voices. Several close allies of the U.S., including France, Britain, Australia, and Canada, have recently recognised a Palestinian state, a move strongly opposed by both Israel and the Trump administration.
At the UN General Assembly earlier in the week, Petro accused Trump of being “complicit in genocide” and demanded criminal action over U.S. missile strikes in the Caribbean.
On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the assembly and criticised Western recognition of Palestinian statehood. He warned that such decisions send a dangerous message that “murdering Jews pays off.”
The Gaza war, which began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has left over 65,000 Palestinians dead and displaced the entire population of the enclave, according to Gaza health officials. Israel rejects genocide accusations, insisting its campaign is an act of self-defence.
The visa cancellation adds to already worsening ties between Bogotá and Washington. Earlier this year, the two governments clashed over deportation flights and anti-narcotics policies, with Washington accusing Colombia of failing to meet its obligations.
Despite Colombia’s reliance on U.S. trade and military support, analysts warn that relations are now entering their most turbulent phase in decades.
