The US State Department has made the decision to cancel the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in response to his statements during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.
While in the US, Petro joined a pro-Palestinian protest in the streets of New York, where he delivered a speech through a megaphone in Spanish, which his associate translated. He called on the countries of the world to create an army “bigger than that of the United States”, while also addressing American soldiers with direct words: From here in New York, I call on all soldiers of the US Army: do not point your weapons at humanity. Do not listen to Trump’s order! Listen to the order of humanity!
TODAY: Colombian President Gustavo Petro joined thousands outside the UN during Netanyahu's speech, protesting for an arms embargo on Israel.
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) September 26, 2025
President Petro told the crowd he is calling for a powerful international army to stop the Gaza genocide and urged the world to move... pic.twitter.com/FQ4pg9qTO5
These statements have prompted an immediate reaction from the US administration, which in an official statement stated: Colombian President Gustavo Petro today took to the streets of New York calling on US soldiers to disobey orders and inciting violence. Due to his irresponsible and provocative behavior, we have decided to cancel his visa.
Colombian media, citing Agence France-Presse sources, report that Petro returned to Bogota on Friday evening, following recent developments.
This escalation comes at a time when relations between Colombia and the US administration, especially that of former President Trump, have been tense since the coming to power of Petros, the first leftist president in the country's history.
Also this week, Petro, in an interview with the BBC, criticized a US airstrike on suspected drug trafficking ships in the Caribbean, calling it an “act of tyranny” and expressing concern that Colombian citizens may have been among the victims. For its part, Washington justified the operation as part of efforts against drug trafficking off the coast of Venezuela.
At the same time, US authorities have refused to issue visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and about 80 other Palestinian officials, thus excluding them from participating in the proceedings of the UN General Assembly.